African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 477: Chapter 155 Persuasion

For now, let’s take Ferdinand’s words seriously, but Franz can’t easily agree to the Austro-Hungarian Empire protecting East Africa, even if East Africa sends its own brother over.

”Population doesn’t equal national power, although East Africa’s land is not small, these don’t change the fact that East Africa is a small country.” Franz said.

There’s nothing wrong with saying this. In the current world, it’s not just having population and land that can make a strong nation. If accounting this way, then the Far East and India should rank at the top.

Franz’s perception of East African territory was based on the last time, even though East Africa has expanded without limit over the years, at most it’s over three million square kilometers.

This is a stereotype. In Franz’s view, there are other players in Africa like Portugal, Britain, France and other forces, they wouldn’t just watch East Africa eating meat without responding. Moreover, East Africa would need time to assimilate the indigenous people, just as it took time for America to deal with the Native Americans, and even now Americans are still persecuting the remaining Native Americans in the West.

”Overall, East Africa is indeed not a strong country, its geographical location is not that important, but East Africa’s strategic position is crucial for the Austro-Hungarian Empire!” said Ferdinand. ”The Austro-Hungarian Empire’s naval power in the Mediterranean can only radiate to the eastern Mediterranean region. Now that the Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean with the Indian Ocean, and control of the Suez Canal is in the hands of the British and French, this presents a development dilemma for the Austro-Hungarian navy. But looking at the map, East Africa is south of the Suez Canal, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire is north. If our two navies join forces, do you know what this means?”

What does it mean? It means the Suez Canal being sandwiched in the middle by the joint naval forces of the two countries, equivalent to indirect control of the Suez Canal. But does East Africa’s navy have this capability!

The answer is affirmative, at least on paper. Others might not know the strength of East African navy; the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s navy definitely knows. Most of East Africa’s ship orders were completed by Austria. In fact, when comparing the strengths between the two countries, East African naval prowess is already the closest indicator to that of Austria’s navy.

Currently, East Africa has three ironclad ships in service, which is far less than the Austro-Hungarian navy, but three more are being constructed, with another one already in the design phase. Additionally, East Africa plans to order a state-of-the-art ironclad ship with a displacement of 7,500 tons. By this time next year, East Africa’s ironclad fleet will reach six, and by 1880, East Africa can own an Indian Ocean fleet comparable in size to the Austro-Hungarian navy.

The current Austrian navy has ten ironclad ships, of which two were captured from the Italian navy. Thanks to the East African orders, since last year, the Austro-Hungarian navy began constructing two new ironclad ships, so this number will rise to twelve next year. By 1880, the Austro-Hungarian navy’s ironclad ships will likely maintain a number around fifteen.

By 1880, East Africa’s number of ironclad ships will not exceed that of the Austro-Hungarian navy, even if Ferdinand’s proposal to add another ironclad ship, along with the Friedrich ironclad ship, East Africa will only have nine. And whether the Austro-Hungarian Empire plans further shipbuilding in subsequent years is unknown. Certainly, many of the Austro-Hungarian navy’s ships are old, with seven ironclad ships in service before the Battle of Lissa.

However, the paper strength of East Africa’s navy isn’t bad. The core is not even close to the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s capabilities, lacking a supporting naval training system, experienced sailors and senior navy officers are extremely scarce.

Although there is support from the Austrian navy, the naval officers sent to East Africa by the Austrian navy are mostly unpopular rookies without naval combat command experience. As for Grand Duke Ferdinand, he belongs to the naval construction capability full level; not many know the extent of his command capability.

Therefore, as an emerging force, the specific combat effectiveness of East African navy is unknown. Investment in equipment has been high over the years, but talent development is lagging, though equipment data does allow for quite a comparison with the Beiyang Fleet.

”Yes, the growth in power of East Africa’s navy over the years is indeed impressive, even making me a bit envious and jealous. From a naval cooperation standpoint, it certainly has the strength to match the Imperial Navy.”

Thinking about the development of East Africa’s navy, Franz has to admit that the Heixinggen royal family is truly wealthy and willing to invest heavily. Perhaps only the British Royal Navy can suppress the East African navy.

In fact, the Austro-Hungarian Empire initially wanted to sell its old ships to East Africa and build new ones for itself. But alas, East Africa is a buyer’s market, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire cannot choke East Africa’s neck. Moreover, Ernst doesn’t want to take over those ”antiques.”

In response to the great powers, Ernst relies heavily on financial strength to rapidly build East African navy. Initially, naval qualities were not high, and with inadequate equipment, East African navy’s position could become awkward.

Furthermore, Ernst primarily wants to use the batch of purchased warships to hold off for twenty to thirty years, dragging it into the 20th century, and only new ships can meet this.

East Africa can place orders with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Britain, France, Italy, or even Germany and Russia.

In fact, Ernst’s own shipyard, with more effort, could also pile up ironclad ships. Over the years of heavy investment and with Heixinggen Ocean Trade Company serving as a feeder, the four major shipyards have accumulated rich experience in building large ships. Among them, Bajamojo’s local shipyard has started to experiment with manufacturing East Africa’s first domestically produced ironclad ship, though its displacement is just two thousand five hundred tons.

”But our desire for the sea is not strong. Geographically, Austro-Hungarian Empire is inherently disadvantaged in competing for ocean supremacy. Because you are my brother, I am not afraid you will laugh at me. The truth is, regarding the struggle for continental hegemony, the Empire has essentially given up as we lost Germany and thus lost the opportunity. Now the Empire is like a ship drifting in the sea, yet as the helmsman of this ship, I don’t know where to sail. I can only do my best to comfort the sailors and keep the ship moving forward!”

This is the first time Ferdinand heard such a pessimistic sentiment from Franz; he replied: ”Franz, you have actually done very well. In reality, the problems of the Austro-Hungarian Empire have long been laid down by predecessors in the Empire. They could not have imagined how powerful national emotions affect the Empire today. It can only be said that the times have abandoned the Empire. By the time you took control of the country, it had become very difficult to turn around.”

Franz felt very happy hearing Ferdinand’s comfort. The younger brother who once caused him headaches and concerns is now beginning to empathize with him!

However, the tone of Ferdinand suddenly shifted: ”But, precisely because of this, the Empire should even more ally with East Africa, especially with Austria. We’ve compromised too much with Hungary over the years, and other ethnic groups have observed Hungary’s successful example. If they follow suit, the Empire’s future destiny will only be fragmented. When the Empire no longer exists, it means the Habsburg family is also in danger.”

”Can our alliance with East Africa resolve this predicament?”

”Of course not!” Grand Duke Ferdinand decisively asserted: ”But we have the capability to absorb some of the Empire’s unstable factors.”

After sipping his tea, Ferdinand continued: ”In fact, East Africa has been implementing a plan to prevent the Austro-Hungarian Empire from disintegration, focusing on reducing the risk of independence of some important areas around Austria through East Africa’s migration policies.”

Ferdinand’s statement indeed piques Franz’s interest; East Africa intervening in Austro-Hungarian internal affairs? It feels like a sense of fantasy.

”This plan has no formal written documentation, but its effect has already been reflected, namely targeting Slovenia, Croatia, and Czech regions’ population improvement. Since the 1873 economic crisis, we have methodically immigrated from the above regions, focusing on Slavs in three areas. Unemployed workers and farmers are the main ones led into East Africa, undermining nationalism sentiment and foundations in these three regions.”

”Do you remember who was the main culprit in the previous Austro-Italian War?”

”Ernst!”

”It was him. His fundamental goal is still to enhance the power of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, specifically the stabilization of the Empire’s people.”

”But the Empire bore the risk for this, and Ernst made quite a profit in the war.”

”But the final choice is in your hands, isn’t it? You were tempted, and you bet successfully. Italy could not assimilate its own national power in time, just when France was entangled with Prussia, the Austro-Hungarian Empire reclaimed lost territory. It’s as if the glory of the Empire has returned!”

The Austro-Italian War proved to be a tonic for the self-confidence of Austro-Hungarian Empire’s populace, demonstrating that the ancient Empire’s edge remained keen.

Ferdinand continued: ”Including this economic crisis, the role of the Heixinggen consortium in stabilizing the Empire’s economy, I need not say more. Merely the steel orders ensured the Empire’s economy didn’t completely collapse.”

Franz, after hearing this from Grand Duke Ferdinand, realised he indeed received quite some care from Ernst.

”Why the Austro-Hungarian Empire? Germany is evidently stronger!” Franz raised his final question.

This made Grand Duke Ferdinand a bit awkward: ”Ahem, you’ve already mentioned it. Now Germany is very dominant, but just that is precisely not East Africa’s ideal partner, because the basis of cooperation is mutual need, more importantly, equal strength. Clearly the German government is somewhat excessive in strength; such a country East Africa can’t be as at ease cooperating with as with the Austro-Hungarian Empire.” The subtext is the Austro-Hungarian Empire poses no threat to East Africa.

Upon hearing this, Franz’s face darkened: ”Finish your tea and leave quickly!”

”And about the alliance matter!”

”Wait for my news.”