African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 520: Chapter 198: Eating Both Ends

With the previous lessons learned, Portugal has become much more cautious, so Grand Duke Verus asked, ”Do you still want us to test the waters this time? Portugal can’t afford any more troubles!”

Williams said, ”Don’t worry, this time we can sign a treaty. If there is a war next time, Britain will definitely join in. Portugal just needs to follow us, and you will regain lost territories and go further. All the British Empire wants is to nip potential threats in East Africa in the bud, preventing it from becoming a country like America or Brazil.”

Williams deliberately mentioned Brazil, which made Verus understand what the British meant. East Africa is too large, to the extent that a strong country may rise in the African region, which is not something a world overlord like Britain is willing to see. If colonies, one by one, become emerging great powers, then Britain’s colonies may also follow suit and turn into independent countries, like India! Or Australia and Canada, for that matter.

Like in the past life, under America’s cultural and military achievements, many countries that were tormented to death by America seemed to rise again after reaching a dead end. Instead of developing according to America’s thinking, they further threatened American hegemony.

In the Middle East, Iran is also a headache for the United States, and it was the United States that caused the rise of Iran. Iran does indeed have a revival trend, and this is not Ernst speaking nonsense. Just look at the expanding influence of Iranian factions in Arab countries and it becomes clear. Iran doesn’t have the appeal of Egypt, but Ernst believes that the small groups supported by Iran are actually more combative than the entirety of the Arab Islamic countries.

As for the negative evaluations of Iran in the media, just take a look. If Iran was really so worthless, it wouldn’t have so many followers in the Middle East, something that Saudi Arabia can’t buy even with money.

Iran can be said to be the last hope of Islamic civilization in the entire Middle East, having found its own development path, completed industrialization, and importantly, not propped up by the West, but developed amidst the blockade of the Western world.

Besides the above two countries, finally focusing on the bigger picture, the most powerful challenger to Western hegemony is the Far Eastern Empire.

The above three countries have formed three significant forces on the World Island that the United States cannot underestimate. In Ernst’s view, the existence of these three countries prevents a country like the United States from truly controlling the World Island.

As for other countries, like India, there’s not much to say. Indian politicians are good at governing the country and adept in the field of diplomacy, but they lack that proud demeanor needed to lead the world.

This is different for the Far East, Russia, and Iran. They have always been players on the Eurasian continent. The Far East and Iran have deep historical roots, having been one of the dominant powers on the Eurasian continent in the past, while Russia has also shown its might, once rallying half the world against America.

As for whether Ernst’s words make sense, just look at the attitude of successive world overlords towards Afghanistan. They must know this; otherwise, a place like Afghanistan, probably even the natural conditions in Northern Myanmar are better, yet it became the graveyard of empires due to its location.

Of course, this is just Ernst’s point of view. Ernst believes that the above three countries are the ones that have broken away from Western world thinking patterns and developed quite well.

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After appeasing Portugal, the next force Britain sought out was Belgium. Now Belgium has already established a foothold in Congo-Brazzaville, especially with the assistance of East Africa. Ernst had to admit that he and Leopold II shared some similar tastes.

However, the British were unaware of the relationship between Belgium and East Africa, so they wanted to pull Belgium into the camp against East Africa.

The British had reasons to worry. The expansion momentum of East Africa was too fast and could potentially enter the West African region. Meanwhile, Belgium’s Congo colony was right next to East Africa, making it the only leverage Britain could find.

As for the strongest power in West Africa, France, it was now entangled by Germany. East Africa provided a template for Germany, so Germany also wanted to try its hand at grabbing a large territory in Africa, and the only place with conditions as good as East Africa’s was West Africa.

Being enemies, France naturally tried every possible means to thwart the Germans, but this also prevented France from putting all its focus on colonizing West Africa.

The same was true for Italy, which formed a balance with the Empire of Abyssinia. So, looking at the surroundings of East Africa, Belgium was the only relatively free country.

Belgium, Brussels.

”Your Majesty, we British have come with sincerity. The expansion speed of East Africa is too rapid, and the Germans’ ultimate goal is all of Africa. One day you will have to face East Africa.”

Just like the African savanna, where wild animals can roam freely, this leads to all the wild animals in Africa seeming like they came from the same mold. The British also believe that East Africa has ambitions to annex all of sub-Saharan Africa. After all, under similar climate and natural conditions, unifying into a civilization is quite possible. Previously, the British would definitely not believe it, but East Africa has already ruled most of Southern Africa, so this possibility truly exists.

Leopold II feigned surprise and said, ”As Mr. Ambassador Claire stated? East Africa shouldn’t be that cruel, right!”

”Haha, Your Majesty, how do you think East Africa obtained millions of square kilometers of land? Did the neighboring Africans gift it to them?”

Leopold pretended to speak seriously, saying, ”Then what plans does your esteemed country have?”

Claire repeated to Leopold II the same proposals made to Portugal. There appeared a barely noticeable smile in the eyes of the old fox Leopold II, but his complexion remained unchanged as if he truly bought into the British speech.

Leopold II said, ”Rest assured, our country will cooperate on this matter. As long as Belgium is around, East Africa definitely won’t head north. We’ll block them, but if East Africa bypasses Belgium, there’s nothing we can do.”

Leopold II’s words did not completely satisfy Claire, so Claire said, ”This isn’t enough. Although the Congo rainforest isn’t of high value, its vast area makes up for it. If your esteemed country is interested, it can take the Congo Basin.”

Leopold II pretended to be difficult, saying, ”The Congo rainforest isn’t easy to penetrate. We lack weapons and ships...”

”On this matter, we will strive to assist your country as much as possible. As long as your country can block East Africa, we can offer your country discounts on arms trades.”

Leopold II seemed to make a significant decision and said, ”Alright then! I’ll do my best to give it a try.”

In reality, Leopold II was quite satisfied with having extorted from the British, but as for opposing East Africa, Leopold II had no intention of doing so.

Once Claire was sent off, Leopold II immediately sold the British out, passing the news of Britain’s desire to draw Belgium into their fold to East Africa.

As for the East African threat, what does that have to do with Belgium? East Africa contributed quite a bit during the initial colonial construction of Belgium, providing a lot of support, so Leopold II was very reassured about East Africa because he knew East Africa’s target was definitely not Belgium.

Apart from the excellent relationship between the two countries’ royal families, East Africa’s help in Belgium colonizing Congo-Brazzaville indicated that East Africa had no designs on the region. After all, Leopold II was aware of East Africa’s strength on the Ubangi River. It could be said that Belgium was able to colonize Congo-Brazzaville because East Africa allowed it.

Just as he balanced Britain and France in the past life, Leopold II was balancing relations between East Africa and Britain, feasting on both ends, taking British weapons and East African food, and continuing his expansion to the west and north. Isn’t this the way to thrive?