African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 609: Chapter 288: Sense of Oppression

Ernst isn’t exaggerating; this is a fact, much like the tribute the Song Dynasty paid to the Qidan. If such tribute were paid to a country the size of Korea, it would amount to a significant income.

America’s Marshall Plan and the Soviet Union’s Warsaw Pact played similar roles; only at that time, the strength of both countries was so great that they could elevate numerous nations to prosperity.

The Far East Empire of the 21st century also employs this strategy to align with other countries, particularly Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam, as well as Africa. From this perspective, the current actions in East Africa are merely a reverse version of the Far East Empire’s plan, but both use Nanyang as a stepping stone.

However, now that East Africa’s power is limited, the only ones truly getting rich through East Africa’s benevolence are the merchants of Zanzibar. Yet, Zanzibar has become localized by East Africa, so the effect is not noticeable. If Zanzibar were still an independent country, it would be no different from Korea and Japan.

This relates to trade issues. If the United States did not open global market channels to Japan, Japan’s proudly proclaimed automotive industry wouldn’t even be able to assemble the necessary parts, let alone export them to Europe and America, considering Japan’s scarce domestic resources.

Thus, Japan, even when it was the world’s second-largest economy, could only bow humbly before the United States, and Zanzibar faces a similar situation. Losing East Africa’s domestic supply channels would lead to an immediate decline.

Before 1869, when the Suez Canal was not yet open, Zanzibar could still struggle to survive by looking towards Western Indian Ocean trade. However, once the Suez Canal opened, Zanzibar’s status plummeted.

Of course, after the Suez Canal’s opening, the economy along East Africa’s coast has become even more active, all thanks to East Africa.

Due to East Africa’s development in Africa, the area within East Africa has become a new source for raw materials and markets and participates in global trade. This creates a counterbalance between sub-Saharan African shipping and the Suez Canal.

Furthermore, the opening of the Suez Canal has further enhanced economic exchanges between East Africa, Eastern Europe, Central Europe, and Southern Europe, forming mutual benefits.

If it were the Africa of previous generations, it wouldn’t even be able to partake in global trade, barely able to drink the leftover broth, let alone lick the bowl’s rim.

In past Africa, apart from South Africa and North Africa, which had some industrial development, the center zone hadn’t even developed agriculture. Even a struggling agricultural nation could save some money, while Africa’s agricultural exports relied only on ivory, leather, or some specialties.

Such exports essentially functioned like hunting and gathering in primitive society, using the byproducts to exchange for money from other civilizations.

While East Africa isn’t considered developed, its agriculture and industry are complete, with significant size and scale. By conducting intensive production according to market demand and with military escort, they can participate in global trade.

In contrast, East Africa is not comparable to the Orange Free State or the entire Cape Town colony. The only export Cape Town can boast of is diamond, along with a moderately scaled agriculture and livestock industry.

As a colony of the British Empire, there is nothing noteworthy about Cape Town’s agriculture and livestock industry because Britain had far too many colonies. If Transvaal were still present, it would naturally be different, as just relying on gold would allow it to soar, but now Transvaal is East African territory, and East Africa’s lack of development leads to vast areas being left idle, further decreasing economic value.

Without the endorsement of gold and mineral resources, there’s not much utility value, and the Transvaal’s revival organization can only rely on their fervent opposition to East Africa to curry favor with the British because, apart from hatred, the people of Transvaal have nothing else.

Of course, the British view things differently. What is the most precious legacy of the Transvaal Republic? Naturally, it’s the population of Transvaal, given the unknown existence of gold. In Africa, the population is a precious resource, much like the French often capturing or purchasing Black people from tribes for colonial development.

East Africa is oblivious to the hunger of others, filled to the brim by the two world’s overflow population zones, satiating three layers of fullness, while other African colonies, by contrast, have completely empty stomachs.

Of course, this involves East Africa’s immigration principles. During this era, apart from East Africa and Argentina, Black Slaves were absolutely the most welcomed immigrant group, and compared to the world’s largest population groups like India and the Far East Empire, the numbers of immigrants were negligible.

In British colonies, there is actually a tendency for xenophobia. In regions like Australia and Canada where control is slightly stronger, Black people are rare, and this also relates to the late development timing of these areas. They missed the flourishing years of Black Slave trade. The development of Canada and Australia is almost simultaneous with East Africa, whereas, during East Africa’s establishment, the Black Slave trade was nearly halted, but East Africa extended its lifespan.

Although Cape Town Colony is also in Africa, there aren’t many Black people. Otherwise, Boer people and other white people’s population wouldn’t be close to mere hundreds of thousands.

Britain has a long-standing tradition of sheltering divided and independent forces as well as rebel parties from various countries, so naturally, as an enemy of East Africa, Britain shows more concern towards the people of Transvaal.

Some people of Transvaal merged into the Orange Free State by seeking relatives and friends, becoming Orange individuals, but many did not integrate into the Orange Free State. This population also amounts to more than a hundred thousand.

A population of more than a hundred thousand, hostile to East Africa, is Britain’s best weapon against East Africa. Although Mozambique has more population, the last East-Portuguese War taught Britain a lesson, which is that Black people servant armies are unreliable, and white people are more reliable.

Thus, upon persuasion by the Governor stationed in Bloemfontein, he says, ”After recovering lost territory, the Transvaal Republic should restore all rights it enjoyed as an independent nation, and Britain will ensure the security of the Transvaal Republic after its revival.”

The focus is on the post-revival period, which is essentially a hollow promise, though the Governor’s assurance in Bloemfontein is quite enticing: one is to guarantee the interests of the original ruling class of the Transvaal Republic and another is to ensure the security of the Transvaal Republic ”after revival.”

Of course, Britain won’t provide security free of charge. Once revived, the Transvaal Republic would definitely need to fully align with Britain economically, politically, and militarily, turning the new Transvaal government into a comprador class serving Britain.

Besides, the successful revival of the Transvaal Republic would definitely mean East Africa losing vast territories in the south, weakening East Africa’s strength. Britain could re-establish a strategic buffer zone between East Africa and Cape Town where the initiative remains theirs, ensuring the safety of Cape Town Colony.

An independent country like East Africa is quite prominent for Britain. In Britain’s global strategic layout, besides Europe, the first to free themselves from Britain was America, while the Far East Empire remains a tough challenge.

In other regions, Britain has always maintained superiority, but the emergence of East Africa has turned the areas Britain set its sights on in Africa into mere illusions.

With French influence in West Africa and North Africa, Britain’s original intention to handle South Africa is now largely in East African hands. Britain can tolerate the dominance of East Africa in the highlands of East Africa.

However, East Africa’s reach is too extensive, and Britain now lacks the arrogance of previous generations. Their minimum requirement is for East Africa’s power to withdraw north of Lake Malawi.

This is similar to someone wanting to divide America or Russia into multiple countries in previous lifetimes. Land size can present an immediate pressure.

Much like 19th-century Tsarist Russia, with over 20 million square kilometers of land, even Britain, as the world’s dominant power, felt a sense of pressure.