Chapter 299 Prejudgment
Zanzibar Island.
More than a month after the East African government called on Zanzibar to abolish slavery, a group of unexpected visitors visited the Zanzibar Royal Palace again.
A steam merchant ship flying the British flag docked at Zanzibar Island. The crowd on the shore was not surprised. The location of Zanzibar Island determines that merchant ships from almost all countries sailing in the Indian Ocean are likely to appear here. Of course, it is the Suez Canal. Before its opening, most ships now use the Suez Canal.
However, the people of Zanzibar have not forgotten the grand scene of merchant ships from various countries docking in Zanzibar in the past, so the appearance of a British merchant ship is not unexpected.
When the merchant ship docked, a group of people stepped off the ship, but their purpose was not for trade and supplies. They went directly to the management location of the port.
"Are you an official of the Sultanate of Zanzibar!"
"Yes, I am the person in charge of the port, Emene."
"Well, I am the special envoy of the British Empire. I want to visit the Sultan of your country. Please inform me."
After hearing the purpose of the visitor, the Zanzibar official did not dare to neglect, and said: "Sir! Please wait a moment." After that, he turned around and said a few words to his men, then rode a carriage to the palace to report the situation.
"Hello, I am Ekaramu, the deputy manager of Port Sudan in Zanzibar. Sir, what do you call me?" Ekaramu, who stayed to receive the British envoy, asked politely.
Edward ignored the Zanzibar official. He looked around at the Zanzibar Port. Because the Sultanate of Zanzibar took over East African trade, it did not decline because of the opening of the Suez Canal. It was still very prosperous, and the streets There were people coming and going, and there were many ships in the port, but Edward's focus was not here.
When he landed at the port, Edward noticed that Zanzibar Port seemed to have more things than when he passed here ten years ago.
Edward: "That flag, if I remember correctly, should be the flag of Europe! Why is it erected next to the flag of the Sultanate of Zanzibar?"
Akaramu: "That is the flag of the East African Kingdom. The East African Kingdom is a friend of our Zanzibar Sultanate, so their flag is erected together with our flag."
Edward said calmly: "Oh! So that's it. I've heard people talk about the emergence of a new country in East Africa, but because I have been in India all year round, the news is not very well-informed. This is the first time I have seen them. flag."
Akaramu: "Sir, the ruler of the East African Kingdom is a member of the famous Hohenzollern family in Europe, and its monarch is Prince Constantine of the former Kingdom of Prussia!"
Edward: "I see. It seems that East Africa has changed a lot in these years! The Germans have established a colony here. Do they have any contact with you? For example, what kind of business are they doing?"
Akaramu: "The main thing is the trading of agricultural products. The East African kingdom is rich in rice and wheat, as well as special products such as sisal."
"Pfft!" Edward couldn't help laughing when he heard Aikram's words, "Germans are indeed good at farming. I heard that many Germans in America are like this too."
Edward had no interest in this East African kingdom. It was just a small country enjoying itself in a corner that no one wanted in the British Empire.
"We haven't seen each other for ten years. Your army of the Zanzibar Sultanate seems to be much more regular. It seems to have introduced European characteristics. Is that a fort? It's well built. It used to be very dilapidated and only had a few small cannons."
Ekaramu sweated nervously and said, "Mr. Edward, in fact, that is the army of the East African Kingdom, and they also built the fort."
Edward: "Oh! Are you, Zanzibar, so good that you are wearing the same pants as the so-called East African Kingdom? You even gave them your own port to defend."
Akaramu could only smile and said: "That's right. After all, East Africa is a friend of Zanzibar. We... still trust our 'friends' more."
Of course, the Sultanate of Zanzibar does not want to hand over its national defense to East Africa, but the situation is stronger than the people, so it can only obey the arrangements of East Africa. If you obey, the East African Kingdom will enjoy the soup. If you don't obey, East Africa will now give Zanzibar to Yang. Yes, it belongs to the kind where a mute eats Coptidis chinensis and feels unspeakable pain.
Edward said angrily: "Then the relationship between your two countries is really good. It would be great if the Indians also had the consciousness of your country!"
By this time Emine had returned.
"Mr. Special Envoy, His Majesty the Sultan has agreed to receive you, please come with me."
…
When Emene took Edward to the Zanzibar Palace, a figure quickly headed towards the Embassy of the Kingdom of East Africa.
This person was a member of the East African Army stationed at the port of Zanzibar. Emene not only reported the news to Sudan, but also reported the news to the East African Army at the port.
East African Embassy in Zanzibar.
"Mr. Lemons! A British ship landed on Zanzibar Island just now. A group of British people disembarked. They claimed to be British diplomats, and then asked to go to the Zanzibar Sultan's Palace. The Zanzibarians who came forward did not dare to refuse. You should have arrived at the palace by now!"
Lemons: "Oh! Is it a warship?"
"No, if it is a warship, our army will intercept them after they land."
East Africa has a garrison at the port on Zanzibar Island, but the East African garrison generally does not interfere with the trade activities of the Zanzibar Sultanate, so the army did not intercept the British from landing. If the British came with warships, East Africa would definitely have to The purpose of the cross-examination was.
Lemons: "Ah! That's it! It seems that the British can still communicate this time. Let's go to Zanzibar Palace to see it."
…
Zanzibar Royal Palace.
Little Said had already made preparations and had tea and tea at the palace to welcome the arrival of the British envoy.
"Sultan Said, I am the British Empire's Indian Colony Bombay Special Minister Plenipotentiary to Zanzibar, Edward!" Edward, dressed in a suit, arrogantly introduced himself to little Said.
Little Said asked with a smile on his face: "I wonder why your envoy visited the Sultanate of Zanzibar!"
Edward: "Just last month, we intercepted a slave trading ship from your country heading to the Ottomans, and two months ago there were two more. We have warned you many times that as an important country on the coast of the Indian Ocean, you still It is shameful that such bad behavior exists, so I am here on behalf of Britain and the civilized world to demand that the Sultanate of Zanzibar immediately stop the slave trade, a backward behavior that violates humanity and freedom."
Edward criticized the Sultanate of Zanzibar from the moral high ground.
Little Said's smile froze a little. He recalled that the last time an East African said that the British might use this as an excuse to intervene in Zanzibar, he didn't quite believe it at that time. He thought it was just an attempt by the East Africans to obtain the Sultan of Zanzibar. It seems that the East Africans are kind-hearted and they really did not fool themselves. Fortunately, East Africans beat themselves up before, otherwise they would really be in trouble today.
After arranging his expression, little Said said with a smile: "Envoy Edward, where do we start with this! We, the Sultanate of Zanzibar, are also part of the civilized world."
Edward: "You still want to make excuses. Since the founding of the Zanzibar Sultanate, it has been a country that relied on the slave trade. In the past few decades, the slave trade in the Indian Ocean has become increasingly rampant because of your actions."
Said Jr.: "Your country cannot frame us arbitrarily. We admit that the black history of the slave trade existed, but your country back then..."
Edward denied it: "We have long abandoned this evil business, and now the British Empire is the promoter of the fight against the slave trade and the embodiment of justice."
Little Said: "Uh! In fact, our Sultanate of Zanzibar is also against the slave trade, and selling slaves in Zanzibar is illegal."
Edward: "Nonsense. If the Sultanate of Zanzibar is really like this, will we still find evidence?"
Little Said said with some pride: "You don't know something in your country. After I came to power, I actively promoted the abolition of slavery in the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Just a month ago, we had completely enacted legislation to prohibit the slave trade. Any slave trading activities are prohibited in the country." The Sultanate of Zanzibar is illegal and carries the death penalty. In fact, your country is completely over-concerned this time. We Zanzibaris will solve this matter ourselves!"
Edward looked confused, what the hell, you told me when I arrived that the Sultanate of Zanzibar had abolished slavery and banned the slave trade!
He asked unwillingly: "You are not just making up lies because you are afraid of me, are you?"
Little Said: "Of course not. The law we just promulgated last month is still posted on notice boards across the country! You can go check it out, or you can ask on the street at will. I can personally I will accompany you to seek verification."
Edward was about to say something when someone shouted at the door: "Do you know who I am? If your Majesty the Sultan knows that you have blocked me out, you will not be able to bear the consequences..."
Edward was a little unhappy, but Said was pleasantly surprised when he heard the sound.
"I'm sorry, Sir Edward. It seems that there are still guests visiting today, which disturbed you. I'm sorry. I'm going to see who is so bold and dares to make such a loud noise in the palace."
At this time, the doorman was listening aggrievedly to Lemons scolding him, how could he, a little doorman, provoke him.
"Who is making the noise?" Little Said came out and pretended to ask loudly.
But he excitedly stepped forward to greet Lemmons and whispered: "Mr. Lemmons, are you here? The British..."
Lemons said with a smile: "I will help you with this matter, let's go in first."
Before leaving, Lemmons took out a gold coin from his pocket, handed it to the doorman, and said, "You performed well just now, don't worry about it!"
After that, he turned around and returned to the palace with Said. Edward was sitting on the sofa drinking tea.
Little Said: "Envoy Edward, I'm so sorry. This is the East African Minister, Mr. Lemons. There was some misunderstanding with the guard just now."
Edward: "Forget it, I won't pursue this matter anymore. Let's continue talking about the slave trade."
"Slave trade?" Lemmons said, "Your Majesty the Sultan, hasn't our country strictly prohibited the abolition of the slave trade in your country?"
"Ah, oh, that's right, but Special Envoy Edward may not know about this..." Little Said cooperated and recounted the conversation with Edward just now.
Lemmons: "So that's it. In my opinion, it's a complete misunderstanding. However, after all, Special Envoy Edward has good intentions. However, your country repented relatively late after all, so Special Envoy Edward was not clear about this matter. I think Edward's envoy was so busy traveling and traveling that he must have wasted a lot of time, especially in India, which is the pearl of the British Empire. And Edward came from Bombay, just for this small matter, it was obviously more than worth the gain. Sultan Said would like to express his gratitude. good!"
In the end, under Lemmons' reconciliation, little Said spent a huge sum of money to buy a safe house. As for Edward, he just revealed the matter for the sake of money. Anyway, Zanzibar is indeed legally The slave trade has been abolished, and it will be easier for him to go back. However, Edward still reminded: "Your Majesty the Sultan, it is better to be careful in your country's maritime trade. If you are found to be continuing to trade slaves..."
Said: "Envoy Edward, if it is really a slave trading ship, it was definitely not done by the Zanzibar people. Your country can sink them at any time."
Anyway, Said's own slave ship has been transformed into a "labor" export ship, with complete procedures, and the living environment of "laborers" has been greatly improved. It is not much different in appearance from ordinary immigration ships.