Chapter 193 Couple Conversation
May 29, 1869.
East Africa, Port of Dar es Salaam.
"Stand at attention! Everyone is here, find them!"
A rare gathering of Dar es Salaam garrison at the pier, which is rare in Dar es Salaam.
In a beer hall.
"Miller, what are they doing? It's very rare for the military to appear at the dock in an organic form. Usually, only a few people are responsible for maintaining law and order." Schultz asked.
"I don't know the specific situation. I guess some big shots are coming to East Africa, so they are here to welcome them!" Miller said.
"Those are the four big ships on the sea! I was surprised, why didn't the ships come down today? I also looked at the flags on the ships and confirmed that they were indeed our own ships from East Africa, not those passing by. "Schultz said.
Passing ships are those ships that are temporarily resting in the port of Dar es Salaam. They are generally merchant ships from various countries that temporarily replenish fresh water and supplies in East African ports.
"That's what I thought at first. The pier has been temporarily vacated and isolated from the four ships. I can tell at a glance that there are big things or big shots on board. And just now I saw many big shots from the city government. They arrived one after another, wearing suits and leather shoes, and in such a grand manner, so I concluded that they were here to pick someone up," Miller said.
Sometimes some important instruments and facilities come ashore in East Africa. Although they pay more attention to it, they will not free up such a large area at the dock and create such a big formation. Although sometimes there will be soldiers coming to escort, only one or two at most. Scale of ten people.
"Creak, creak..." came along with the sound of horse hooves.
A luxury carriage passed on the stone road in front of the tavern, attracting the attention of nearby residents and interrupting the conversation between Miller and Schultz.
It was not that the noise from the wooden tires and stone slabs of the carriage affected the two of them, but that the owner of the carriage had a well-established background in Dar es Salaam, or was a household name.
In East Africa, the only carriage equipped with a special escort was the carriage of Ernst's father-in-law, Maximiliano I and his wife.
Maximilian I originally planned to travel around East Africa, but since Queen Carlotta came to East Africa, his travel plan was completely shelved indefinitely in Dar es Salaam.
Years ago, Maximilian I was persuaded by Queen Carlotta to go back to Austria to visit his mother and daughter. Unfortunately, after staying in Vienna for a while, Maximilian I felt very uncomfortable. Some people There is always a vague curiosity in his eyes when talking to himself.
Especially when facing Franz, Maximilian I felt even more uncomfortable. Franz did not insult his brother, but said when he saw Maximilian I: "Don't do it again in the future." Stop messing with those unrealistic things.", a kind word, but it made Maximiliano I suffer a critical blow in his heart.
So Maximiliano I, who felt ashamed of himself, went to East Africa again in the name of recuperating in East Africa. Fortunately, Queen Sophie also knew her son's embarrassment and agreed to his request. Maximilian I had originally considered it. He brought his daughter with him, but when he thought about the poor educational conditions in East Africa, he decided to let her stay with her mother.
Going to East Africa to recuperate is definitely an excuse. At this time, the conditions in East Africa cannot be compared with Austria. Even if you travel to East Africa, you don't have the same conditions. Traveling in East Africa with the addition of bad traffic conditions is bound to make you suffer.
The coastal areas are not bad, especially Dar es Salaam. As an important commercial node, you can hear all kinds of interesting stories about the East African interior and the sea at the same time. After the transformation of the East African government, the living environment has also been greatly improved. This is also an important reason why Maximilian I has always lived in Dar es Salaam.
Of course, there is another important reason why Maximilian I stayed here, and that is that Dar es Salaam, as a coastal city, can always remind him of his tenure as Commander-in-Chief of the Austrian Imperial Navy in Trieste and his subsequent service as the Memories of his time as Doge of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia.
That period was the highlight of Maximilian I, who showed great talent. The Austrian Navy grew rapidly under his drastic reforms. Later, the Teghoff Navy was so powerful in the Battle of Lisa that The generals are the military talents promoted during the reforms of Maximiliano I.
Politically, he also made great achievements in governing the Kingdom of Lombardy and Venice, which eased the relationship between Italy and Austria. However, his liberal policies aroused dissatisfaction with Franz, who believed that he was too indulgent to the local Italians, so he soon He was later dismissed as governor-general, but still retained his position as commander-in-chief of the navy.
After the incident in Mexico, Maximiliano I now admitted that he was indeed not good at politics, but his work in the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia was still good.
"My dear, why do you think Prince Constantine chose to come to this place in East Africa? He is so old now, can he withstand the roughness of the sea?" Queen Carlotta asked.
"This is normal. East Africa is now the most important territory of the Hechingen royal family. After all, Hechingen is just a small country, and it has completely become a part of Prussia. The way for the Hechingen royal family to get closer is completely blocked. died.
According to Hechingen's current financial resources, it does have the ability and opportunity to operate a throne in Europe. Although there are opportunities, they are not many. Even if the slightest opportunity can be grasped, it will take time. After all, it will take time for the Hohenzollern family to obtain the Romanian throne. This kind of good thing happens only once in a century in Europe.
Moreover, the operation of the throne requires connections. To put it bluntly, most of the connections of the Hechingen royal family among the European aristocrats are with Prince Constantine.
But as you said, Prince Constantine is sixty-nine years old this year. Age is a drawback, and Ernst was born too late. He is simply a generation away. He wants to completely inherit Constantine's legacy. I’m afraid it will take a few years to create a political legacy.
In addition, this kid Ernst has always been more enthusiastic about business in Europe. As a Prussian nobleman like him, he usually works in the military camp to gain seniority.
Prussia! We all know that the military is the fastest way to promotion there. Ernst’s peers are probably still suffering in the military camp, but he is free and easy. If it weren’t for his noble birth, he would not even be able to touch the circle. To put it politely, you and I can get along better than him in the European aristocratic circle.
Therefore, if they want to get through quickly, the only way left for the Hechingen royal family is to develop overseas colonies, and it seems that this way is very likely to work.
This is also one of the things I admire about Ernst. He has found a good direction. The difficulty of East Africa is nothing compared to Europe.
And the potential is huge. Why didn’t I notice this wonderful place in East Africa before? It’s so much better than damn Mexico!
I carefully maintained the interests of all parties in Mexico, and I also had to look at the faces of France and the Americans. In the end, I offended everyone. As a result, Ernst, the kid in East Africa, could get such a huge sum just by suppressing and attacking the indigenous people in East Africa. A territory.
Moreover, the conditions in East Africa are so good, but no force has been eyeing it before, allowing Ernst to seize the opportunity in vain. Our son-in-law still has some courage like mine. "
As Maximiliano I recalled his experience in power in Mexico with some sadness, he began to envy Ernst's vision and luck, and finally returned to contentment. The stronger the East African colonies developed, the better. Anyway, Ernst had already Engaged to Karina.
Therefore, East Africa can be considered as one of my own in the future. After all, I am only Karina's daughter, and Ernst's descendants still have Habsburg blood flowing through them.
Maximiliano I had to admire his mother's vision. This marriage was really profitable. Others were not optimistic about Africa. Maximiliano I, who had stayed in East Africa for such a long time, understood East Africa better and better. We are optimistic about the potential of East Africa and have a solid foundation for dominance.
However, Maximiliano I also had a confusion. Such a good land, but these indigenous people did not develop any civilization. Is it really that they are not good at race?
You have to say that African diseases are terrible! But these natives will not be affected too much. The natives on American plantations did not choose black people because they were durable.
Let’s talk about being far away from the civilized world! East Africa is not remote, and Dar es Salaam is a natural window for external exchanges. As a result, there is a somewhat decent Sultanate of Zanzibar on the coast, which was created by Arabs from the Middle East.
If you say IQ is not good, this African doesn't look like it. Those chiefs are quite shrewd when talking business with slave traders.
And I have been in the Americas, which is really separated from the Eurasian continent, but the Indians relied on playing with stones to create a more brilliant civilization than the African natives who entered the Iron Age.
I can't figure it out, what's wrong with this native African? To change the way of thinking, suppose we summarize the reasons why Africa cannot develop, such as geographical location, climate and environment, disease wars... The combination of factors is a trash basket, and everything can be thrown into it.
But now that there are real cases in front of us as ironclad evidence, that theory no longer works. The construction of the colonies in East Africa just shows that the geographical location here is good. Ernst used the geographical location of East Africa to transport immigrants from Europe and the Far East.
In terms of adapting to the climate environment, immigrants from Europe and the Far East are definitely not as advantageous as the indigenous people. There are even a group of Slavic immigrants in East Africa who came from the alpine regions of Tsarist Russia.
Diseases and wars, East African immigrants are far less resistant to African diseases than native natives, and the East African colonies themselves are war mongers, destroying several countries, and small-scale wars continue...