African Entrepreneurship Record

Shao Kui.

With a gloomy expression, Bugival said, ”East Africa has already surrounded Shao Kui. It’s almost certain that the forces in other directions have all been annihilated by East Africa. Now we’ve become completely besieged in an isolated city.”

Of course, Bugival was a bit too pessimistic. It’s not that easy to wipe out the British forces, especially the main force in the west. So far, the Allies of Saint George and Mapai have not surrendered voluntarily.

However, they are also unable to break through East Africa’s blockade to join up with the Allies in the east and Shao Kui.

In this situation, it is indeed similar to what Bugival said, just with some differences in detail, and the outcome is already destined.

”Currently, East Africa has about eight or nine divisions of troops, tightly surrounding Shao Kui. We basically have no chance of breaking out,” said Count Roberts with a heavy face.

Having fought wars all his life, this South African war is arguably Count Roberts’ most regrettable one. He shouldn’t have participated in this war, then he would still be revered as a hero.

However, if defeated by East Africa, Count Roberts’ past accomplishments would be overturned. After all, Count Roberts’ former opponents were the Abyssinian Empire, Afghanistan and India, Burma, and others.

In most cases, it was actually due to the advantage of the British forces in terms of weapons and equipment. Once defeated by East Africa, all his past achievements would be labeled as ”bullying the weak, unable to conquer the strong,” which is unacceptable to Count Roberts.

”Havier, how many people do we have left now?” Count Roberts asked.

”Report to the Commander-in-Chief, the entire Shao Kui area has about seventy thousand people left, including nearly ten thousand British troops, more than twenty thousand Portuguese troops, and the rest are Indians and Black people.”

Upon hearing the military situation, Roberts frowned deeply. It seemed the troop strength was about the same as East Africa’s, but in reality, probably only around thirty thousand could actually fight East Africa.

However, thinking about his future ”miserable” predicament, Count Roberts still decided to go all out against East Africa. Tomorrow is Christmas, and if nothing unexpected occurs, both sides would cease fire for a day. Yet, Count Roberts decided to break this conventional agreement, attempting to break out northwest on Christmas Eve.

...

23rd, Christmas Eve.

Facts proved that Christmas Eve was not peaceful at all. Similarly without principles, East Africa launched a sudden night attack on the British forces.

”Boom boom boom...”

On the Tugela River, East Africa organized artillery bombardment on the British positions on the opposite bank, while the East African Defense Army began laying pontoon bridges under the cover of machine guns and artillery.

Previously, the British forces retreated to the Natal colony, so they conveniently destroyed all the bridges and ships on the Tugela River. This forced East Africa to chop wood and cross the river directly from nearby areas.

It’s worth mentioning that the Central Railway has been reopened, so logistical supplies are continuously transported to New Hamburg Port City by rail, which is the confidence East Africa has in this campaign.

Shells and bullets covered the enemy positions as if they cost nothing. Under the cover of artillery fire, East Africa successfully laid multiple pontoon bridges and then began clearing out the British forces on the southern bank.

The British forces and Indian sepoys of the Natal colony were almost powerless to fight back, relying on just over three thousand British people. They could hardly rally more than thirty thousand Indians, who instead opened breaches in the British lines due to their last-minute desertion.

”These damn Indian brats!” Commissioner Marshall, observing the battle from a height, completely lost his composure, while by his side, Bides stood motionless like a piece of wood, eyes filled with schadenfreude, as if he had anticipated it already.

”Major General Bides, what should we do now?” Marshall asked awkwardly.

Bides stifled a laugh, trying to look very serious as he said, ”There’s nothing we can do now, we can only retreat in the direction of East London. I think, Commissioner, you have already seen the nature of the Indian soldiers, relying on them to resist East Africa is entirely an impossible task. Moreover, the firepower comparison just now was very clear, now the East Africans surpass us completely in firepower. So the fundamental reason for our failure in the South African war was the misjudgment of East African strength before the war. To speak unreservedly, their military power has reached the standard of major powers.”

Seeing Marshall’s nasty expression, although Bides felt some schadenfreude, he still analyzed some details of the war with Marshall.

Marshall seemed to realize and said, ”I was wondering why the East Africans were so hard to fight. Their firepower indeed is somewhat beyond logic. Could it be that foreign countries are secretly supporting them?”

It’s no wonder Marshall thought so. The British forces have always been the superior side in terms of firepower, whereas the South African war was obviously different. East Africa, this ”colonial country,” on the contrary, had stronger firepower than the British Empire, naturally making it hard for Marshall to accept for a moment.

Bides exposed the facts mercilessly, ”East Africa has a complete defense industry, which is particularly evident in the war. Their firepower has actually grown stronger compared to the earlier stages of the war, so the war has instead stimulated East Africa’s war potential.

At the same time, we cannot let other countries support East Africa on a large scale. Although we are at a disadvantage on the South African battlefield, it hasn’t affected our global military layout. Most importantly, Suez and British Somaliland are in our hands. Countries like Germany and Austria-Hungary can hardly provide support to East Africa.”

Marshall: ”Are you saying East Africans didn’t import weapons from Europe or other regions?”

Bides: ”It’s obvious that East Africa has been plotting for a long time. They anticipated that there would also be wars on the African continent. So, they began building their defense industry in the 1870s, which was consolidated in the 1880s. Up to now, East Africa’s defense industry system clearly supports their war needs. So, from the start, it was a mistake for us to start the war.

Many people, by inertia, perceived East Africa as a country like other colonies, but under the rule of the Heixinggen royal family, East Africa absorbed advanced European technology and knowledge, and inherited the militaristic tradition of the Germanic regions. So, from the beginning, we were fighting a weakened version of the German Empire.”

In Bides’ view, East Africa has even become a country comparable to Germany, but there are still significant differences between the two; each has its strengths and weaknesses. However, at present, East Africa’s overall strength is still far weaker than Germany, not to mention unrivaled by Germany. The only commendable aspect is probably East Africa’s vast territory.

But now is not the time for Marshall and Bides to chat, as the East African Defense Army is landing on the southern bank of the Tugela River, and the Natal colony is in jeopardy.

So Bides said, ”Commissioner, I’m afraid we have to retreat. Otherwise, it wouldn’t look good if we truly become prisoners of East Africa. Let’s head back to Durban, then travel by ship to East London Port. We can continue to confront the East Africans.”

Marshall’s face looked grim. He had just arrived here for less than a week, and now he had to leave by ship. This was simply a humiliation to him. However, circumstances left him no choice; survival was paramount.

On the same day the Southern Military District launched their operation to land in Natal, they also launched a cross-river operation in the Orange area, engaging in fierce combat with the British forces in Cape Town.

However, the British forces in Cape Town were not as easy to deal with as the ones in Natal. The remaining forces of the Boer Republic provided Cape Town with relatively ample manpower, allowing them to continue relying on the Orange River to resist East Africa.