African Entrepreneurship Record

The relocation of the capital to Rhein City is not without its drawbacks. Since the Age of Exploration, the ocean has been the key strategic focus for major world powers, most notably Tsarist Russia. Originally based in Moscow, Tsarist monarchs like Peter I moved the capital to what is now Saint Petersburg in an effort to gain access to seaports, implement maritime strategies, and fully embrace Western advancements.

The decision to establish the capital in Saint Petersburg significantly benefited Tsarist Russia. Leveraging maritime advantages allowed for easier reception of technology and capital from Europe. Saint Petersburg transformed from a remote village under the Swedish Empire into the most economically prosperous region of Tsarist Russia.

The rapid Westernization of Saint Petersburg enabled these technologies and capital to be disseminated throughout Tsarist Russia’s inland, catalyzing swift development in its Eastern European territories.

Conversely, East Africa’s decision to move its capital from First Town to Rhein City serves as a contrasting example. At the very least, Ernst’s inspections of the Bajamojo naval base would become less convenient.

Previously, in First Town, Ernst could visit naval facilities whenever he wished, with the coastal area being less than seventy kilometers away, reachable within an hour. That ease of access is now impractical.

However, despite Rhein City being deeply inland, it has a positive impact on East Africa’s maritime strategies. Unlike Tsarist Russia, whose major ports are concentrated in the east, East Africa borders two oceans.

Thus, Rhein City, located at the center between the eastern and western coasts, allows the East African Central Government to more conveniently coordinate development and expansion efforts toward both the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.

Previously, such a feat would be unattainable for the East African government. Yet, with advancements in telegraph, telephone, and wireless communication technologies, along with a robust infrastructure of railroads and highways, coupled with future aviation developments, the communication barriers between Rhein City and East African coastal areas are diminishing.

Consider Peter I’s era, when even railroads didn’t exist and communication relied heavily on horses delivering messages. By the time news reached Moscow about any European upheavals, it would be too late to react.

At that time, the coastal proximity and European access made Saint Petersburg the sole choice for a Tsar aiming to bolster Tsarist Russia’s maritime ambitions.

If it were Peter I’s era, East Africa wouldn’t be capable of a capital relocation. Although an inland location provides better national control, it hampers maritime competition—a scenario in which First Town’s coastal position offers a relative advantage.

Nevertheless, advancements in communication and transportation technologies enable East Africa, even after relocating the capital to Rhein City, to maintain strong external connections and remain in tune with global developmental directions, while actively participating in international competition.

Similarly, from Ernst’s perspective, current Tsarist Russia should consider moving its capital back from Saint Petersburg to Moscow. Although Saint Petersburg remains economically vibrant and facilitates easy external communication, with the advent of railroads and modern communication methods, Moscow is comparably capable in these aspects.

Furthermore, crucially, Saint Petersburg is precariously positioned, whereas inland Moscow offers superior security—a consideration that Tsarist Russia, post-dissolution and the transformation into the Soviet Union and eventually Russia, already accounted for by reinstating Moscow as the capital.

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Without waiting for the completion of renovations at the Rhine Palace, Ernst has already begun his ”duties.” On the day he arrived in Rhein City, he visited the Central Government building there to supervise state affairs.

This marks a significant change following the capital relocation. In First Town, Ernst worked from Sweet Palace, as traditional royal palaces naturally serve as political centers in feudal monarchies.

Yet in Rhein City, Ernst has separated the royal residence from the place of administration. This indicates that Ernst will now embark on his ”commuting” journey just like the East African officials.

”From Rhine Palace to the Central Government building, it takes at least thirty minutes—it’s like asking for trouble,” Constantine remarked to Ernst.

Ernst replied, ”With cars, it only takes a little over twenty minutes; it’s not a big deal. Moreover, having the office at Rhine Palace would diminish the living experience, so it’s better to keep them separate.”

Though that’s what he said, Ernst is internally considering that if the East African monarch eventually becomes symbolic, there would be a need to establish a dedicated government office, akin to prime ministers’ residences or presidential offices in other countries.

The most typical example is the United Kingdom’s 10 Downing Street, so it’s prudent to separate the palace from government premises now to avoid future complications.

In fact, this is already a relatively understated way of putting it. As the twenty-first century approaches, the early twentieth century also marks the last glorious years of monarchies.

If East Africa experiences political transformation similar to that of mainland Europe, causing the royal flag to fall, having royal residence as an administrative center could lead to complications.

”Honestly, if it weren’t for the absence of a civilian area between Rhine Palace and the Central Government building, safety could be a significant concern,” Constantine continued.

After all, history is filled with attempts on monarchs’ lives, especially the late Tsar Alexandria II, who survived over a hundred assassination attempts only to ultimately meet his end in 1881 when a bomb thrown at his carriage sent him to the afterlife.

This caused quite a stir at the time and prompted Constantine to urge Ernst to bolster Sweet Palace’s security. Sweet Palace, located in First Town’s city center, wasn’t strictly separated from residential areas, and if rogue elements from Tsarist Russia could exploit this, it could pose a decapitation threat to the East African royal family.

Of course, this seems unlikely mainly because First Town was purposefully built as a political city, with most residents being ”law-abiding citizens,” at least based on official records.

”Father, safety is always on my mind. The security setup between Rhine Palace and the Rhein City administrative district is the strongest in East Africa, so encountering any threats is virtually impossible. Most of this route comprises residential areas for government officials’ families, with the rest chosen to support the administrative area’s living needs carefully, and nearby military forces enhance Rhein City’s safety, making it top-notch globally.”

With the move of both the East African government and the royal family, the Guard Division stationed in the Marine Province (formerly Central Province) has also relocated. Even its naval elements have been transferred, moving their operations from the Little Rhine River and Bajamojo port to the Renshaw Fowa River.

Currently, however, since the Renshaw Fowa Dam has not yet been completed, the Guard Division’s naval space is limited. Once the dam is finished, they can conduct enforcement activities in the Fuwah River Reservoir.

Essentially, they have transformed from a navy to a lake-based force. Due to East Africa’s large lakes, such as Lake Victoria and Lake Malawi, along with Soron Lake (Tanganyika), inland naval forces have always existed; they’ve now been reorganized into water police under the Ministry of Public Safety.

”Actually, there’s a subway connecting Rhine Palace and the Central Government building, offering substantial security. But it’s unnecessary; traveling by car is safe enough. The royal family’s cars have some bulletproof features, and personnel can quickly be stationed in case of danger.”

Upon hearing this, Constantine recalled that Rhein City indeed has a subway, but he asked somewhat confusedly, ”Where is the subway exit for Rhine Palace?”

Ernst smiled at Constantine and said, ”By midyear, coinciding with the Spanish-American War, the subway was fully completed. However, the Bermuda Palace subway is over a hundred meters deep underground, typically with no trains passing through. There’s a hidden room in the Rhine Palace serving as the subway passage, but once we’re done at the Central Government building, I’ll show you the layout inside Rhine Palace.”

As the current King of East Africa, Constantine must also make public appearances at the government. After all, it marks the first day of work for the East African Central Government following the capital relocation, so father and son will familiarize themselves with Rhine Palace’s layout after ”clocking out.”