African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 339: Chapter 19 Foreign Forces

As a new city, the capital of the Ndebele people—Bulawayo—was established less recently than many cities set up by the East African Kingdom.

Lobengula and his father Chilikaqi employed a large number of slaves to build their capital city, and although the city is not large, it clearly showcases characteristics of both Arab and European architecture.

On one hand, the influence of Arabs on the eastern coast of Africa is profound, and even the southern Zulu people are not exempt; the Ndebele people, being a branch of the Zulu people, are similar.

On the other hand, what the Ndebele people learned from their old rivals, the Boers, however when Boers occupied Transvaal, they lacked the time and manpower for luxurious buildings, mainly constructing Dutch-style or German-French style simple fortresses.

The Ndebele people fully absorbed the experience of the Boers, constructing shooting ports, towers, and other facilities in their capital, transforming the entire capital into a small military fortress akin to Hohenzollern Castle, which aligns with the Ndebele people’s militaristic characteristics.

At this time, Lobengula was reviewing his army outside the castle, and the sight of over six thousand Ndebele warriors equipped with firearms was absolutely stunning.

They wore traditional Zulu tribal attire but carried firearms as tall as a person, with barbarism and ”civilization” complementing each other.

Besides equipping his own troops with ”advanced” weaponry, over ten thousand Shona Tribe servants also participated in this parade. Although the servant army is much larger, they are spread throughout the Matebel Kingdom; Bulawayo alone cannot sustain so many people.

Lobengula was very satisfied looking at the enthusiastic Ndebele warriors, feeling a great thrill of heroes from across the world rallying to his side.

Lobengula asked the head of the Boer advisory group next to him: ”Mr. Wiggins, look at my men; now, compared to the East African Kingdom, how do they stand?”

Wiggins laughed confidently: ”Hahaha, Your Majesty, rest assured, Ndebele warriors are brave and combat-ready; now paired with firearms, combined with our Boer training, they can undoubtedly deal a heavy blow to the East African Kingdom.”

Wiggins was the overall instructor sent by the Transvaal Republic to the Matebel Kingdom to help Lobengula train Ndebele warriors in using firearms.

After all, firearms were sold to the Matebel Kingdom by the Transvaal Republic, so naturally, they had to provide comprehensive service; otherwise, if Ndebele warriors use firearms like spears and charge at East African colonial troops, ending up riddled with bullets, it would be a major joke.

Lobengula ordered: ”Commence the drill!”

Divided into several platoons, the Ndebele warriors began methodically loading ammunition into their firearms, then raised them to fire at a row of wooden stakes set up beforehand in turn.

”Bang... Bang... Bang...”

The fragile wooden stakes were instantly torn to shreds.

”Good, good, very good!” Lobengula praised the power of the firearms before him.

Lobengula: ”With these firearms, the East Africans will certainly come but never return.”

...

A fast horse galloped across the grassland, heading toward the border troops of South Salzburg Province.

”I have important military information to report.”

Soon, the scout was brought before Sivert.

”Report, Chief of Staff! We encountered the troops of the Southern Road Army in the southeast; they are coming to join us.”

”Which unit of the Southern Road Army are they?”

”The second brigade of the Southern Road Army, they have been active here recently, suppressing native rebellions.”

Sivert was pleased: ”Good, it seems the Southern Road Army has almost suppressed the south and east rebellions, we will wait here, meanwhile, let the soldiers rest a bit.”

The border troops of South Salzburg marched in haste all the way from near Malawi Lake into the heart of the Matebel Plateau, primarily to engage the Ndebele main forces, namely the Matebel Kingdom’s Bulawayo base.

As for local rebellion suppression, naturally, it is left to the Southern Road Army to unfold from the east and south directions.

About twenty minutes later, indeed, a unit appeared on the horizon, it was the second brigade of the East African Southern Road Army.

Brigadier Yaan Reed: ”Chief of Staff!”

Sivert: ”Good, from which direction did you come?”

”Chief of Staff, our brigade initially stationed north of the Limpopo River, according to the King’s order, headed northwest from the southeast.”

”So that means the native rebellion in the southeast has almost been suppressed?”

”Yes, Chief of Staff, however, some residual Ndebele forces escaped; we chased them all the way here.”

”You did very well!” Sivert praised.

Yaan Reed: ”By the way, Chief of Staff, our troops have an important piece of military intelligence to report.”

Sivert: ”What intelligence?”

”Chief of Staff, please wait a moment.” Yaan Reed turned to his subordinates and said: ”Bring our captives and seized goods up!”

Soon, several white men were brought up, along with a wagon covered with a rainproof tarp.

Yaan Reed lifted the tarp, beneath it were stacked boxes of goods; seeing the style of the boxes, Sivert immediately guessed what was inside.

”Is this ammunition?”

”Yes, Chief of Staff, and it is ammunition provided by Boers to Ndebele people.”

”Hmm, these Boers are indeed bold!”

Yaan Reed remarked: ”Chief of Staff, next, you interrogate these Boers; then we’ll know what true deeds they’ve done.”

Sivert immediately understood that this matter might not be as simple as it appeared.

He approached the Boer captives and asked: ”Are you from the Transvaal Republic?”

One of the Boers replied in German: ”Yes, may I ask who you are?”

”I am the Chief of Staff of the East African Kingdom’s army, Sivert!”

Upon hearing it was an East African official, the Boer immediately said: ”Sir, this is all a misunderstanding.”

”Hm, don’t play tricks; we already have information from the Ndebele people; if you cooperate properly and confess your crimes... Otherwise...” Yaan Reed interrupted from the side.

”Sigh, given the situation, we are willing to disclose all you want to know, but I have one request, that is to ensure our safety.” Seeing he was exposed, the Boer said.

Sivert: ”Of course, we can do that; I ask you answer, and we guarantee your safety, first question, why are you here?”

Boer: ”We were commissioned by the President to come and trade with the Ndebele, as you see, providing them with ammunition; the main reason is that the Ndebele exchange with gold, while simultaneously weakening your country’s power.”

Sivert: ”How many weapons did you provide to the Ndebele?”

”I don’t know, but there should be quite a few, at least several thousand firearms, and a lot of gunpowder...”

Ten minutes later.

Sivert: ”Alright, we will keep our promise, however, now you’ll be a guest in East Africa!”

The Boer captives easily betrayed all the intelligence of the Transvaal Republic to East Africa because they realized East Africa was unlikely to let them return to the Transvaal Republic.

Sivert remarked to his subordinates: ”Hm, Transvaal Republic is quite generous, providing guns and people, they really do not regard us East Africans; once we resolve the Ndebele people, we’ll settle the score with them!”