African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 192: Chapter 180 Choice_2

”Indeed, such a large area of a colony cannot be concealed for long. If it gets exposed, it might indeed attract the attention of those with intent,” Prince Constantine said solemnly, looking at the East Africa colony, which occupied a large area on the map of Africa.

Initially, Ernst was merely making empty promises to himself, but now that the promise has materialized, Prince Constantine had no choice but to take it seriously.

”Father, these are last year’s various data on the East Africa colony. Take a look.” Ernst took a folder from the drawer beneath him, which contained the annual statistical report of the East Africa colony, documenting from 1866 to 1868, a total of three pages.

Prince Constantine pulled over a chair, sat at the conference table, and began to look carefully.

After browsing through data on the economy, grain production, resources, population, and the military, Constantine’s brows furrowed even more tightly.

A moment later, Constantine put down the documents and said seriously, ”It seems that East Africa has thoroughly grown now. What do you plan to do?”

”Father, I plan to go to East Africa within a year or two myself and personally oversee all affairs in East Africa,” Ernst honestly laid out his plan.

”This won’t do. East Africa urgently needs someone with sufficient prestige to be in charge. Otherwise, remote command poses too much risk. I can’t believe there is anything more significant than the Hohenzollern family controlling East Africa that could keep you in place!” Constantine uncharacteristically scolded Ernst in a stern tone.

Ernst fell silent. He certainly wanted to fly to East Africa immediately to take charge, but he has been entangled in three issues.

One is his only relative, Prince Constantine. In his previous life in Africa, Ernst could not let go of his parents back home, yet he had to toil overseas for a living.

In Africa, Ernst’s work locations were unstable, often moving with the company’s transnational operations, feeling lonely as a foreigner in a foreign land, which made him cherish family ties immensely. Ending up dying in a foreign land, Ernst did not dare to imagine how heartbroken his parents must have been whenever they learned the news.

Therefore, in this life, Ernst naturally couldn’t put his mind at ease with his father, whom he spent every day with, and this was the biggest psychological barrier preventing him from decisively going to East Africa.

The second issue is the harmonious development of the East Africa colony and the Heixinggen consortium, where Ernst had tried convincing himself that the weight of the Heixinggen consortium currently outweighs East Africa. However, East Africa’s rapid expansion and development are shattering Ernst’s beliefs, and East Africa’s position in his heart is indeed unshakable.

Of course, sentimentally, the Far East certainly holds an important place in Ernst’s heart, but Ernst knows that given the chaotic situation in the Far East, he is not cut out for it, and being German has no reason to interfere in his homeland’s politics in this timeline. Bringing numerous Far Eastern refugees and the lower class to develop in the East Africa colony is already the extent of Ernst’s assistance to the Far East at present, but in this life, Ernst never harbored fantasies about returning to the Far East, as he truly cannot go back.

The third issue is that Ernst is waiting for the right moment to declare East Africa’s sovereignty, at least requiring the agreement of the majority of the powers.

The above three points are the reasons for Ernst’s struggle. When facing choices, everyone has giveaways and trade-offs, and Ernst is not so heartless. It can be seen that Ernst didn’t engage in direct extermination activities against the natives, but he is not weak either, so many things can be accomplished. If he were truly a saint, the East Africa colony could not exist.

”I probably know what you’re worried about!” Prince Constantine sighed.

Looking at his usually spirited son, who rarely fell silent, Constantine vaguely guessed part of it.

”Ernst, remember, life and death parting is inevitable. No one can act on impulse, especially for us nobles. From the moment we’re born, our fate is no longer in our control, and family interests must always come first,” said Prince Constantine.

”I know. I have become an obstacle in your heart now, but I am old now, and I have looked at many things openly. If you have ideas, go ahead boldly. I should not be a hindrance on your life path. Every father hopes his son can make something of himself, and even more, doesn’t want to become a stumbling block on their way to growth.”

Hearing this, Ernst knew that Constantine might have sensed the first concern, but it was not the primary knot in Ernst’s heart, and the other two points could not be ignored either.

So, Ernst explained to Constantine: ”Father, thank you for your selflessness and love, but things are not as you think. The East African matters also involve...”

Ernst outlined his predicament to Constantine one by one.

”Is that so! It seems that asking you to go to East Africa now is indeed hard to choose, but not going is also a problem...” Prince Constantine, after listening to his son’s reasons, fell into thought.

”Right!” Suddenly, Constantine appeared to realize something.

He stood up and said, ”I’ve now thought of a mutually beneficial solution. See if it works?”

”What solution?” Ernst became puzzled.

”How about I go to East Africa in your place?” Prince Constantine said to Ernst.

Ernst instantly became unsettled. If his old father went to East Africa, it could certainly solve the problem, but the journey to East Africa was not friendly to an elderly man.

”No, Father, you are too old, and going to sea would be unbearable.” Ernst said decisively to Prince Constantine.

”Hmph, you are underestimating me. Back then, I led Heixinggen across the European continent before you were even born! After taking care of you these years, it’s essentially like I’ve retired early in Heixinggen. My physical condition is not worse than you young man’s. Isn’t it just going to sea? How can you not trust your father’s physical condition?” Constantine said to Ernst.

”But...”

”But what? Let’s not argue any further. I’ve made up my mind. This is no longer just your business. It concerns the entire Heixinggen royal family and the entire Hohenzollern family. As the current head of the Hohenzollern-Heixinggen lineage, this is my decision,” Constantine decisively revoked Ernst’s right to speak.

Originally, Prince Constantine was the main candidate for the head position of the entire Hohenzollern family. However, for Ernst’s sake, Constantine handed over the chief position to Prince Karl Anton early on, after all, a head of a big European family has numerous responsibilities, and even after merging into Prussia, Constantine also had to handle Heixinggen’s territories and Prussian affairs at the same time.

Therefore, Constantine passed the head position to Prince Karl Anton, meanwhile holding a nominal position in Prussia, drawing an additional salary. Then, when Heixinggen merged into Prussia, it diminished some of Constantine’s enterprising spirit, as Heixinggen was just a small country to begin with, and had become a figurehead. With a son in this life, Constantine lost interest in participating in Prussian politics.

In the previous life, having no descendants meant only considering the family prospects, but this life is naturally different.

”Please arrange a ship now. I want to go to East Africa immediately to continue our Heixinggen royal family’s great enterprise. Don’t think I’ve been idle all these years. In fact, my heart has long been eager to act. For me, power is something impossible to give up right away. It’s just that previously, Heixinggen limited my platform to play. Now here is a stage of over two million square kilometers to continue pursuing my ambition. Would you be willing to cut off a father’s dream?” To persuade Ernst, Constantine deliberately began to employ his ’Spirit Secret Technique’.

As a former real-power small country king, Prince Constantine, like most European monarchs, was proficient in diplomacy, as political strategies such as forming and breaking alliances were routine matters. A country weak in diplomacy was bound to not last long.

In Prince Constantine’s eyes, Ernst’s diplomatic talent was average. Truly grasping people’s hearts is the forte of the old fox.

Finally, the father and son engaged in a brief confrontation, where the experienced Prince Constantine was naturally not someone the young Ernst could contend with.

Helpless, Ernst could only agree to Constantine’s decision, though he sought some compromises, primarily concerning Constantine’s safety and health. Ernst needed to make full preparations, and it was impossible for Constantine to set off immediately for East Africa.

Arrangements needed to be made for the best ships and service personnel from the company to be ready to go, and East Africa also had to prepare an excellent living environment for Prince Constantine in a timely manner.