African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 226: Chapter 214: The Future is Promising

”Humph! These Germans are so inconsiderate! Not even a greeting, they truly disregard our Kingdom of Portugal!” Yaris said indignantly to his subordinates.

”President, what are you planning to do?”

”Do? What to do? We are just a chamber of commerce; the other side is the military! Do you intend to crash an egg against a rock?”

”Should we contact the government to deal with the Germans?”

”Do you expect anything from those wastrels in the rear? Today’s Portuguese youths have long lost the sharpness of the old Kingdom of Portugal! If it weren’t for their timidity, we should have risked offending the Sultanate of Zanzibar to keep the Germans out. Now the Germans have already established their power in Africa, I’m afraid all of Mozambique is no match for the Germans.”

”President, it’s not that pessimistic, right? We’ve been developing in Africa for hundreds of years, and the Germans only arrived in East Africa three years ago.”

”Bah! Remember this: in the future, when analyzing issues, you must grasp the key points and not use outdated perspectives.” Yaris educated, ”Let me ask you, why have we Portuguese abandoned inland expansion in recent years?”

”Well?”

”Isn’t it because of incompetence? Not only are the colonies ineffective, but even the kingdom itself is lacking. I’ll put this here, East Africa can now have organized troops appearing inland, which we cannot achieve.”

”President, this shouldn’t be difficult!”

”Of course it’s not difficult; but just look at the level of the troops stationed in Mozambique. For years, they’ve struggled even against natives, and now the Germans have even deployed cavalry. They must have more troops in East Africa, truly worthy of Prussian brutes; their mobilization capability terrifies me. No need for large numbers, just fifty thousand Germans would be enough for all the colonies in Africa to suffer.”

After careful deliberation, the Kazemb Chamber of Commerce chose to endure silently but still sent word to the Mozambique government to explain the situation.

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Time waits for no one, and after the cavalry battalion set out, other East African forces also began to pour into areas designated in the ”Pocket” plan.

The East African armory is also accelerating progress, refurbishing second-hand weapons and issuing them to newly landed immigrants.

After several sweeps in East Africa, due to the disappearance of natives in the heartland, there is little need for so many firearms, so most have been reclaimed, with a few left to security teams for predator control.

Continuous waves of armed immigrants will penetrate into the Zambia region, creating conditions for East Africa’s complete takeover of the ”Pocket” district.

Meanwhile, the telegraph line extending from Mbeya to East Katanga is also being constructed, ensuring smooth communication. While the Kazemb Chamber of Commerce still relies on letters to inform Mozambique, East Africa has long used telegraphy to relay messages back to First Town.

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The year 1869 is coming to an end.

This year’s statistics will be simultaneously summarized and delivered to Prince Constantine and Ernst.

This year, the immigrant population in East Africa reached 2,453,000, among which the group of newborns is notably remarkable, numbering over 200,000.

In terms of territorial expansion, the focus is on the west, mainly on the region between the Mitumba Mountains, Soron Lake, and the Luapula River, approximately 300,000 to 400,000 square kilometers. Alongside the ongoing advance into the southwestern region, if completed next year, at least 600,000 square kilometers of new land will be added, coupled with the continuous erosion of territory in the northern Omo River Basin, which means that by April next year, East Africa’s territory may exceed 3 million square kilometers.

In the industrial sector, East African Railway Company and a large batch of newly introduced mining equipment will drive the development of East Africa’s mining industry. Besides Mbeya, mineral resources near the Great Lakes Region can also be exploited.

As for agriculture, as of November 30, 1869, the statistics show respectable progress, with cultivated land reaching over 25 million mu, mainly by expanding upon existing farmland. However, influenced by the advance into the southwestern region, next year should yield promising results.

This year’s development of new land primarily utilizes rice and other grain crops; wheat sees little change, while corn, soybeans, and tubers have seen significant growth in production.

Total grain output exceeds 2.5 billion jin, which is approximately 1.25 million tons.

In terms of per capita output, it’s about twice that of Italy. But aside from grain crops, East Africa also has large-scale economic crops, and subtracting the vast areas cultivated for native staples like cassava, which has a very high yield but isn’t a staple for East Africans, isn’t included in the statistics, a difference Italy doesn’t have.

East Africa’s population, excluding natives, is close to one-tenth of Italy’s, with Italy’s population around 25 million.

Although East Africa matches or even exceeds Italy in some areas, Italy still has centuries of accumulated strength, so relying solely on agriculture and demographic data, East Africa cannot match one-tenth of Italy’s national power.

With the imminent conclusion of the Paraguayan War, Ernst plans to introduce some immigrants from impoverished areas of Italy next year to fill this gap.

Sicily is an important source, although Sicilians, like Far East Southerners, enjoy forming associations, this tendency will be diluted in East Africa; simply preventing them from congregating together will suffice.

Currently, villages in East Africa are well-organized, with no so-called ethnic enclaves. Based on templates, everyone’s residence is scattered, meaning your neighbor could be an immigrant from any other region, but not from the same region.

Neighbors are forcibly required to communicate and integrate with each other, with the common language being German, eventually leading to the emergence of a new German-speaking nation.

Beyond newly acquired land, road construction in East Africa is mostly complete, with main roads connecting all cities and towns; the next steps for ”laborers” will transition to the development of mines, railways, and large hydraulic works.

These statistics indicate that East Africa already possesses the foundation of a nation; if development proceeds smoothly, from the year after next, leveraging transportation, mining, and agricultural production, East Africa will become a primary exporter of agricultural and mineral resources.

Currently, the Suez Canal has opened, and Ernst plans to strengthen cooperation with the Austrian Royal Family, focusing on Austria rather than the Austria-Hungary Empire; fortifying Austria’s influence equals strengthening German influence, which equals strengthening East African influence.

The acceleration of development in the Austrian region by utilizing East Africa’s mineral and agricultural resources is crucial for Ernst, recognizing Prussia as a big brother is risky, Austria has Hungary dragging behind, and lacks this liability.

Given East Africa’s scale, Austria cannot fully absorb it either, struggling with just Hungary, let alone forming a triadic empire.

Simultaneously, next year East Africa will establish an independent nation, so gaining recognition from world powers is vital, with Austria’s royal family playing a leading role being crucial, and once influencing Prussia, Romania, and several German states to recognize it, stability is achievable.

Regarding Ernst offering profits to Austria, no need to worry about Prussia’s sentiments, the rhetoric is ready; Austria is nearest to East Africa, the Suez Canal directly connects the trade routes between the two countries, and as German nations, they should watch over each other.

Moreover, the Prussian royal family is also Hohenzollern; Heixinggen’s development in East Africa benefits the Hohenzollern family, also facilitating the Prussian government’s reclamation of some rights from the former Heixinggen Principality (Europe).

All aspects are taken care of, naturally, there’s no opposition; as for other countries, only England, America, and Russia remain, East Africa maintains good relations with Russia and has no conflicting interests.

Currently, America is busy strategizing against Britain and Spain; Britain also needs to focus on the Prussian-French situation, and as for France, its stance is already less crucial, by this time next year, a new government should be in place, with Ernst, well-versed in history, knowing beforehand how to wager on France’s new government, and considering East Africa’s backwater status, France might not even intervene in East Africa.