African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 814: Chapter 118: Congratulations

Regarding whether East Africa is a German state, in fact, many people from Germany and Austria do not agree, given that East Africa is too complex in composition and located at the bottom of the contempt chain in the African continent.

However, after the South Africa War, East Africa is definitely a German state, as the only ones capable of defeating the Anglo-Saxon people are the German people.

Although the East African bloodline is ”not pure,” it maintains a traditional German royal lineage, coupled with the leading position of German culture.

Of course, Ernst’s goal is merely to garner benefits under the banner of the German country, given that this region in Africa is indeed too lackluster, detrimental to East Africa’s international exchanges. In essence, Ernst is fundamentally no different from those tribal chiefs in Africa.

...

Duji Palace.

Formerly the Governor’s Mansion of Venice, Ernst’s father-in-law Archduke Ferdinand once worked here, and it is also the venue for the negotiations between East Africa and the United Kingdom, Portugal.

”Welcome to the both of you, Count Von der Leyen and Viscount Herman!” said Count Allen Tal, the Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, to them.

”Hello, my old friend.” said Herman to Count Allen Tal.

As the East African Foreign Minister, Herman often travels to Austria for business trips, thus building a good personal friendship with Count Allen Tal.

”This is our East African Finance Minister, Count Von der Leyen.” Herman introduced to Allen Tal.

In Europe, Finance Ministers generally hold high positions of power, often the best candidates for the Prime Minister, and of course, Foreign Ministers too, many Prime Ministers come from Finance or Foreign Ministers, such as Bismarck.

Herman’s words also confirmed Von der Leyen’s position in East Africa, although East Africa’s situation is unique and there is no position for Prime Minister, as Ernst monopolizes national power; hence the finance minister’s status does not match that of Europe.

”Hello, Count Von der Leyen, I think this is our first meeting.” said Count Allen Tal.

”Certainly, I have not left East Africa since the ’70s, but I do know your name.” Von der Leyen said to Allen Tal.

In reality, Von der Leyen felt somewhat uncomfortable communicating with Allen Tal, as he used to be merely a colonial employee favored by the Heixinggen Royal Family, so becoming nobility was completely a pleasant surprise.

This made him feel slightly restrained when talking to these long-established European nobility, but Von der Leyen, having held high positions for many years, quickly adapted and communicated with Allen Tal.

”This time you East Africans fought beautifully, cleanly, and after the South Africa War, there’s bound to be a place for you in the future world.” Allen Tal praised, of course, it was also the truth.

”Not really, we East Africans are still quite far away, this time the British did not exert their full strength, otherwise the South Africa War might have reached a stalemate, combined with the weakness of the Portuguese Kingdom’s strength during the South Africa War, which gave us the opportunity.”

Having spent a long time with rulers like Ernst, Von der Leyen naturally carries a bit of humility, although saying the Portuguese Kingdom’s strength is weak is somewhat Versailles.

However, Allen Tal agreed, saying: ”The Portuguese Kingdom is indeed too backward, always immersed in the glorious history of their ancestors unwilling to wake up, now in all aspects they cannot keep up with Europe’s pace so their elimination is inevitable.”

As a diplomat, Allen Tal is very familiar with Portugal’s national situation, but the more he understands Portugal, the more he realizes this country is flashy outside but hollow inside. The name ’Portugal’ can only deceive other backward countries and regions unaware of Europe’s situation worldwide.

”Of course, Portugal is not the focus, the British are the main event in this war, is it convenient to reveal how far the South Africa War has progressed?” Allen Tal asked.

This is not a classified event, so Von der Leyen said: ”I am not a military person, but I have a general understanding of the current situation of the war, our troops have entered the southern part of Cape Town, now only small parts of land and cities in the west and south of the Cape Town colony are still controlled by the British.”

The western part of the Cape Town colony is desert terrain and naturally not a focus of East Africa’s offensive, while the southern part of Cape Town, although small in area, is the essence of the Cape Town colony.

”Are you confident to end the war within a few months?” Allen Tal asked curiously.

”If everything goes smoothly, it should be within two to three months, of course, provided the British do not increase forces to South Africa.” Von der Leyen did not speak in absolutes.

But even if the British Army continues to increase forces it won’t change the overall situation, Cape Town is too far from Britain’s position, while Cape Town’s position is even less convenient for support than Canada.

”That’s good, what is your psychological expectation for the war this time? Of course, we are on the same side, and this point has already been agreed upon by His Majesty the Emperor and Crown Prince Ernst.”

Franz I has already communicated with Ernst, so Austria siding with East Africa is a consensus between the two countries.

Herman: ”Angola and Mozambique are certainly to be incorporated into East Africa, since we will not give the Portuguese a third chance to wage war, as for the Boer Republic, it should be a difficult point, the British major economic interest in South Africa is the diamond mines within the Boer Republic, but we can make appropriate concessions to allow the British to continue mining diamond mines in Kimberley.”

”What about Cape Town?” Allen Tal asked.

”Hehe, old friend, you should know that is the bottom line for the British, they should not abandon Cape Town.” Herman said frankly.

Allen Tal nodded and said: ”That’s the truth, Cape Town is crucial to British global strategic security and is an important link in naval hegemony, the British Royal Navy will certainly not give up this important military channel control point.”

The Royal Navy’s attitude is essentially the British government’s attitude, after all, Britain’s interests are won by the Royal Navy, and maintaining the Royal Navy’s advantage requires ensuring the safety of the British Royal Navy’s overseas base, and Cape Town is undoubtedly an important strategic point that the British Royal Navy will not abandon.

Of course, Cape Town’s current status can no longer compare with yesteryears; with the Suez Canal option available, Cape Town is destined to be a fallback.

Actually, Cape Town corresponds maritime-wise to the Drake Passage at the southern tip of South America, although Cape Town was the main trade route of the Eurasian continent back then, its economic value cannot be compared to the Drake Passage.

Even so, Britain also has the Falkland Islands (Malta) as an important strategic point to deter the Drake Passage, so the Royal Navy will not give up the more critical Cape Town.

Now, Cape Town’s economic value has been diminished, but it remains the point for Britain’s future deterrence of East Africa, and indeed, East Africa’s trade exchange between the east and west coasts cannot avoid passing through Cape Town.

Simultaneously, as a fallback option, if a major incident occurs with the Suez Canal or Red Sea, Cape Town can be reactivated by the British immediately.

So Cape Town is inevitably the UK’s bottom line; of course, East Africa could take Cape Town by force, but would thoroughly offend the United Kingdom.

But East Africa certainly has no intention of clashing with the United Kingdom to the end, especially in the late 19th century, an era of international upheaval, aside from the United Kingdom, there are many strong countries worldwide.

As the saying goes, when two quarrel, the third benefits. This is not the result East Africa wants, as for the South Africa War, as long as it does not harm the United Kingdom’s core interests, it can still enable the British government to account for domestic affairs.