African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 213: Chapter 201: Reanimation

”Zzz...”

The noise on the phone was quite loud, yet even so, this was cutting-edge technology from the Berlin Power Company.

For such long-distance communication, just the sound amplifiers alone were equipped with sixty-seven units. Ernst spent a substantial sum gathering talent from the German regions and inviting tech moguls. With the help of Mr. Siemens, they rallied all of Germany’s resources to conquer the related challenges in a few months.

In comparison to Siemens, Ernst’s Berlin Power Company was practically as inexperienced as a grade-schooler, with several key inventions obtained through clever means.

At the same time, Berlin Power Company also played a role as a half-processing factory for Siemens Company, manufacturing some components after receiving technology licenses.

Even though Berlin Power Company was so unremarkable, it had grown to become Germany’s second-largest power company, with Siemens Company being the first.

Just like Ernst said before, the only great inventors in the power sector comparable to Siemens were Americans Tesla and Edison (excluding theoretical elites).

Until the telephone lines were completed, the costs almost equaled buying Alaska again. However, such a transoceanic line had virtually no commercial value for the Heixinggen consortium.

The entire telephone line was only used to maintain communications between Ernst and Constantine, the only benefit being the enhancement of the Berlin Power Company’s technological reserves.

Unlike the telephone lines, the modified telegraph lines could in fact spare a portion for civilian communication instead of being exclusively used for the East African government. However, given the current state of East African immigrants, they did not need it either.

After talking for a while, Ernst and Constantine returned to discussing the military.

Currently, East Africa faced a dilemma: to downsize or expand the military. A force of nearly one hundred thousand seemed large.

But spread across a territory of over two million square kilometers, it appeared small. Nonetheless, East Africa’s defense pressure was not particularly high.

Militias alone could crush the indigenous people nearby and could potentially go toe-to-toe with other colonizers, thanks to numerical superiority, of course.

However, if the enemy came from the sea, the militias could not handle them. Those who could strike from the sea possessed strong military capability, and even East Africa’s so-called ”regular army” might struggle to cope.

In East Africas’ colonial standing army, a significant portion actually served police roles, with a presence in almost every city and some villages and towns.

The quality of East African officers was also hard to guarantee, with even graduates from the Heixinggen Military Academy barely surpassing soldiers in military acumen.

And they were trained in a short period, their abilities potentially falling short of mercenaries with years of experience in the Prussian army.

The shortage of professional officer talent was why some in the military meetings proposed learning from Prussia.

The Heixinggen Military Academy currently had only three graduates who received officer-level education in Prussia. These three were exceptional talents.

They were placed in the Berlin Military Academy through connections arranged by Prince Constantine while still in Europe. Whether they could succeed was uncertain, and the small number made them impractical to use, with the first Heixinggen student entering the Berlin Military Academy still two years from graduation.

”Father, I think we should separate some soldiers from the army to form East African police organizations. As for the military, it’s better not to expand further; the focus should be on enhancing the troops’ professional quality and combat ability, as East Africa doesn’t need such a large army now.”

”The more troops, the better, of course. Even Napoleon couldn’t resist the encirclement of all Europe. However, the militias in East Africa should suffice, and there’s no need to expand the standing army further.” Constantine said.

”Let’s settle it then. Through this military reform, first ensure East African military power is entirely in our Heixinggen royal family’s hands, then proceed with reforms for the East African government.” Ernst set the tone.

East African military power had always been in Ernst’s hands, but it was achieved through balancing tactics. Now with Prince Constantine in East Africa, it meant the Heixinggen royal family was relocating there.

Previously, Ernst feared the central government and military power would grow too strong, risking loss of control. Now Prince Constantine could rebuild centrism in East Africa.

This was also beneficial to the East African government, allowing it to better assume many roles originally performed by the Heixinggen consortium.

The prior East African government was truly a puppet government, even needing Heixinggen consortium employees’ approval for compiling statistical data.

The former administrative head Von der Leyen of the East African government was himself a Heixinggen consortium employee, making the government almost like a subsidiary of the consortium.

”Regarding government reform, do you want the government to completely take over all East African affairs?” Constantine inquired.

”More or less, but it still needs to align with the Heixinggen consortium, as East African trade is still handled by the consortium.”

”So what should be noted in government reform? What’s your opinion?”

”Father, the existing departments are all important. While we should learn from Prussia’s government institutions to some extent, East Africa’s situation differs; for example, the disease control and management department must remain significant as it transforms into the Ministry of Health, because as a tropical region, East Africa cannot overlook diseases and medical issues.

The most important is still the military; the Ministry of Defense must be established. Let’s have Arman serve as the Minister of Defense; his health isn’t great, making him reliable. His qualifications and prestige within the military are sufficient.

The police organization previously mentioned can also be established in the new government. Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can be considered a new department in East Africa; you can decide on this yourself.

However, I do have a candidate recommendation: the Mbeya official Becker. You might want to give him a try.

Previously, with just his words, he managed to acquire the Yake Kingdom for East Africa with only five hundred guns. His capability should be quite good.”

Becker was someone Sivert and Ernst reported on, which Ernst remembered, thus mentioning to his father.

Nonetheless, the specifics were up to Constantine to decide since the Heixinggen, as a former nation, had only been annexed by Prussia for twenty to thirty years, and the Heixinggen royal entourage still existed.

It wasn’t clear if Constantine brought them to East Africa this time, as many had disbanded years ago or passed away, or chose not to come to East Africa.

”I’ve noted all of that; additionally, I see the possibility of establishing a Ministry of Culture. I just happen to have some old acquaintances I could place there.” Constantine said.

East Africa’s cultural activities were practically non-existent, except for the popularization of the German language, so Constantine wanted to enhance East African cultural development, which was also beneficial to Ernst. The Heixinggen royal family had always valued cultural development, starting from Ernst’s grandfather, so far maintaining a good reputation among the literati in the Heixinggen region.

However, Ernst reminded: ”Father, promoting East African cultural development is fine, but don’t delve into the ideological aspect. Simply organizing more entertainment activities for East African immigrants is sufficient.

They don’t need any profound ideologies, just to steadfastly support Heixinggen royal rule, avoiding creating shackles for ourselves.”

”Rest assured, I know what to do. I merely wish to implement and expand traditional German culture in East Africa; do you think I wouldn’t guard against liberalism?” Constantine said fiercely.

Back then, the reason Heixinggen integrated into Prussia was precisely because Napoleon imposed French practices onto Germany, at least that’s how Constantine saw it. To prevent ”mob” agitation, Heixinggen and Sigmaringen had no choice but to invite Prussian intervention.

From that point, Heixinggen as a nation was virtually defunct, but now, with East African colonial development, it’s as if Heixinggen had revived.

The Heixinggen’s small court suddenly found a new path in East Africa, seeking reemployment, akin to reincarnation from the Filth.

Moreover, in terms of legitimacy, East Africa seemed to hold more sway than Heixinggen’s homeland. The princely state of Heixinggen in Germany had even moved its royal household to East Africa, making the East African colony the core of Heixinggen’s nation.

As for Heixinggen’s homeland, it instead became East Africa’s antenna in Germany and Prussia, while Heixinggen’s homeland was originally Prussia’s outpost in Southern Germany. This development added a layer of intrigue.