African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 89: Chapter 85: East Africa in the Eyes of Maximiliano I

They say it’s easy to invite a god in, but hard to send one away. Maximiliano I, with his strong self-respect, didn’t want to return to Europe. He believed that if he went back in disgrace, he would be ridiculed.

Late July.

The Port of Mombasa was quite bustling. Due to proximity, immigrants from Asia landed here, while European immigrants landed at the port of Dar es Salaam.

Maximiliano I arrived in Mombasa with a fleet of Chinese immigrants. He stayed in Alaska for only a day, as it was no place for people to live.

The Far East temporarily had no Austro-Hungarian Diplomatic Office (1869’s ”Sino-Austro-Hungarian Treaty of Beijing”), so the ships from the Heixinggen royal territory could only bring Maximiliano I to East Africa.

In East Africa, he could directly contact the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s homeland. In Mombasa, Maximiliano I immediately found his organization.

After all, there were many Austro-Hungarian immigrants here (colonial immigrants would be distributed and settled apart), providing Maximiliano I with ample information.

Upon learning that this was his future son-in-law’s territory, Maximiliano I decided to stay. He used ill health as an excuse to avoid returning to Europe with the students of the Heixinggen Military Academy by ship.

The East African colonial government and Heixinggen Military Academy’s special operations team couldn’t force Maximiliano I to return since this was Heixinggen royal territory, and Maximiliano I was the father-in-law of the Prince. Therefore, Maximiliano I held the highest status in the East African colony at that moment.

Of course, solely based on Maximiliano I’s status as Emperor of Mexico, no one dared to slight him, let alone as a member of the Austro-Hungarian royal family.

Although the environment in East Africa couldn’t compare to Europe and was less developed than Mexico, Maximiliano I felt it was quite good here.

Like Mexico, East Africa was also a tropical region, both primarily highland terrains, so the coastal environments were somewhat similar.

Maximiliano I walked along the Mombasa docks, watching the busy workers unloading goods.

Behind him followed students from the Heixinggen Military Academy, responsible for his safety.

From Mexico to East Africa, through interactions, Maximiliano I realized that these people, who looked quite similar to the Indians, were not actually Indians. They could speak fluent German, which sounded quite similar to the language of northern Austria.

Maximiliano I was understandably upset. When he was in Mexico, he always thought these people were local Mexican Indian tribes supporting him but didn’t communicate with him because they couldn’t understand him.

However, when re-supplying in Alaska, as he saw the local manager and these students communicating in German, Maximiliano I realized that they weren’t language barriers; they simply didn’t want to talk to him.

After arriving in East Africa, upon receiving a telegram, Ernst couldn’t immediately have Maximiliano I return to Europe, as Empress Dowager Sophie was quite worked up. If she saw this unfilial son, it would spark another palace drama.

As the saying goes, distance makes the heart grow fonder. Before Maximiliano I returned to Europe, in Empress Dowager Sophie’s eyes, he was still the pitiable youngest son. Perhaps it would be better to wait until both had let go of their grievances before they met.

With nothing else to do, Maximiliano I wandered Mombasa daily. Before becoming emperor, Maximiliano I was actually quite interested in entomology.

In East Africa, Maximiliano I wanted to completely return to nature, going on adventures and searching for various unique insects of East Africa.

However, the East African colonial government certainly couldn’t agree to this, so Maximiliano I’s activities were limited to around Mombasa.

”Lee, why is it that as fellow yellow-skinned people, you Chinese are more understanding than the Indians?” Maximiliano I lamented.

”Your majesty, allow me to correct a mistake. I am, first and foremost, a German, not a Chinese. The education I received taught me that being German is a cultural symbol. Anyone who sincerely embraces German culture is a German. If we define nations by skin color and bloodline, then the German nation, located at the center of Europe, would also be fragmented into pieces.” Roy Lee replied.

”You are right! Just like the Austro-Hungarian Empire, if everyone recognized German culture, it wouldn’t have turned from the Austrian Empire to what it is today.” Maximiliano I agreed.

Cultural identity serves precisely this function; the inland German region in Europe is an area of ethnic blending.

For example, Prussia was not originally a traditional German region but was forcibly pulled into the German sphere by Brandenburg, eventually dominating German politics.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire was similar. During the Austrian Empire period, it wasn’t a pure German country. As long as Austria won the struggle with Prussia for dominance in the German region, Germans would immediately become the main population, and nationalism would be a minor concern for Austria.

Unfortunately, Austria lost the Austro-Prussian War, preventing the formation of a Greater German Empire, and leaving ethnicities like the Hungarians uncontrollable domestically.

”Indeed, if Austria had realized the importance of cultural identity back then, it might not have suffered such a complete defeat.”

Maximiliano I observed the harmonious cooperation and peaceful coexistence of Austro-Hungarian and Chinese immigrants in Mombasa.

Leaving Mexico, Maximiliano I seemed to have found those days of overseeing the land and wielding power as in the past.

In Mexico, governance was filled with scheming, constant arguments with the conservatives and republicans. Meanwhile, the rebels achieved victory after victory, and his side was the subject of public anger, with no good news reaching Maximiliano I.

”Ernst has done very well; he has given everyone the motivation to survive. Although East Africa is not wealthy, it’s much fairer than Mexico.” Maximiliano I commented.

”Our headmaster has strict requirements for immigration. Though the cultural level of immigrants is generally low, without messy ideological influences, they have quite simple hearts, and as long as they have good conditions to live, they are not much interested in politics.” Roy Lee added.

”Indeed! That’s where Mexico falls short. Various ideologies take root in Mexico, those of Americans, French, Republicans, Monarchists... No one sits honestly at the negotiating table; everyone wants to use force to solve problems!” Maximiliano I summarized.

Roy Lee naturally couldn’t say to Maximiliano I, ’You are like that too. How can you criticize others?!’

”East African society is generally backward, unlike Mexico, which had contact with civilized societies early on. Our headmaster often reminds us that one shouldn’t try to run before learning to walk. So, before changing East Africa’s socioeconomic foundation, one shouldn’t hastily adopt seemingly advanced systems but instead adapt to local conditions.” Roy Lee diverted the topic.

”Ernst’s nonsensical theories are quite numerous! But they do make sense. In Mexico, I also actively promoted social reforms, yet the Mexican populace opposed my rule. Even when I provided them freedom and equality rights, from my initial entry into Mexico, I even thought about pardoning Juarez and others, but in the end, everyone opposed me. I introspect and find that the policies I implemented were advocated by European philosophers, but the Mexican people still couldn’t accept these advanced theories.” Maximiliano I narcissistically remarked.

As an idealist, Maximiliano I’s policies seemed, on the surface, indeed beneficial and benevolent toward Mexico. After becoming emperor, he had no personal interests.

However, Maximiliano I’s subordinates and Napoleon III supported him to justify exploiting Mexico, and Maximiliano I flirted blindly with the Republican faction, gaining neither praise nor satisfaction.

Seeing East Africa, as a colony under Ernst’s rule, though not flourishing, was filled with order and vitality, while comparing it to Mexico, as an independent nation with chaotic and turbulent situations, made Maximiliano I feel a sense of divine injustice.