Chapter 481 Coordinating the performance
In order to strengthen Mozambique's military power, Britain and France planned to let the Mozambique colony use local blacks to form a military force. Although the Portuguese were reluctant, it was okay with a very expansionary regime like East Africa on their side. accept.
The image of East Africa in southern Africa is almost the same as the image of Tsarist Russia in Europe. However, Tsarist Russia is a bit more advanced. The same is true for Tsarist Russia in Asia. Therefore, the international image of Tsarist Russia is well known around the world, and East Africa is the top Most of them have a sense of presence in southern Africa, but it is not easy to use it in West and North Africa. For example, Egypt has a good impression of the East African government. Other countries generally do not know the existence of East Africa except for those subjugated regimes that were driven from East Africa to North Africa.
Mozambique’s use of black people to form its army is actually in line with its national conditions. This is about the Portuguese colonial methods. Portuguese colonization is different from that of the British. The Portuguese cannot control their own crotch, and they cannot be like Anglosac. The people are so ruthless, so the Mozambique colony, like Brazil, has a large number of mixed descendants whose father's line is Portuguese and whose mother's line is African indigenous.
These mixed-race descendants are an effective means for Portugal to still ensure control of its colonies even after its national power declines. After all, Portugal's current national power is probably not much different from that of some small countries in East Asia. Ernst even doubts that Portugal is no match for the Kingdom of Italy.
After being weakened by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Kingdom of Italy is now nestled in the northwest of the Apennine Peninsula, with several Italian islands attached, but its population and industry still exceed that of Portugal.
Therefore, if Mozambique chooses soldiers from blacks, it will definitely choose from mixed descendants. There are more mixed descendants than pure Portuguese, and everyone jointly combats the interests of pure blacks. These mixed descendants related to the Portuguese are originally Mozambicans. It was part of the colonial ruling class, but the top management was in the hands of white Portuguese people. If the mixed-race people had an army, this situation might change, which was what Lyford was worried about.
March 1878.
South Salzburg Province.
When Britain, France and Mozambique were colluding together, the Kingdom of East Africa was tacitly preparing countermeasures. The two sides secretly started a military competition. Mozambique formed a black army, and East Africa was also forming a black army.
You heard me right, East Africa also plans to organize a military force composed of black people, but the purpose of forming a black army in East Africa is obviously different from Portugal.
While livestock were being used to replace black slaves in eastern East Africa, some of the replaced black people were transported by railway to South Salzburg Province in East Africa and on the east side of Lake Malawi for regrouping and training.
When they saw the Germans actually firing their muskets at themselves, these black people felt a little incredible, because they knew that this "artifact" was the reason why the Germans were able to dominate them.
However, after obtaining the artifact, the black people still did not dare to resist the Germans. In the day-to-day oppression in East Africa, the fear built in the hearts of these black people could not be eliminated in a short time.
Of course, they were right. Even if they had weapons provided by East Africa, they would not be able to make a difference. Having a gun but no ammunition is no different from a fire stick.
But later they actually went to the battlefield, and their mentality may be different after seeing blood. This was the case for black people in previous lives, especially in German East Africa. Under the leadership of the Germans, the black soldiers in German East Africa overcame their fear of white people. , which caused the British-Portuguese-Belgian (Belgian) coalition forces at that time to lose face.
This is also the problem that Mozambicans worry about when forming a black army. If modern weapons are used on black people, it is likely to break the impression that white people are invincible in black minds.
However, East Africa is not worried about this at all. This time, black armed forces are also considered disposable items in East Africa. Once they are used up, East Africa will immediately arrange a ticket for them to go to the Americas. If they become a disaster in the future, they will not be found in East Africa.
Looking at the army of more than 5,000 black soldiers in front of me, it was really a swarm. They really looked like soldiers from African countries in their previous lives, except for one beret.
Ernst said with satisfaction: "If our army deliberately acted with the Portuguese, it would look very unreal, so in order to give the Portuguese the illusion of meeting their opponents, I think we should make it more realistic, so the black army exists. necessity.”
The commander of the 111th Division, John Sebastian, stood aside and asked worriedly: "Your Highness, is this really no problem? I personally doubt the combat effectiveness of black people. If they become a flaw on the battlefield, What if we drag our regular troops into the water?"
Ernst: "What are you worried about? The Portuguese will definitely use black people to form an army. They don't have that many white people in their colonies. Even if they really spend money to mobilize troops from the mainland, the black servant army will definitely be indispensable. So there’s no advantage in using black people against black people to be afraid of you?”
There is really no advantage, because the equipment of the black legions in East Africa is worse than the equipment prepared by Portugal for blacks. In order to form the black legions, East Africa collected a large number of flintlock muskets used by militiamen, which are worse than the Minie rifles and Enfield rifles used by Portugal. a lot of.
This was not something Ernst could know, because at this time France and Britain were transporting these unsalable arms in warehouses to Mozambique and Angola to equip black soldiers, and it was impossible for East African intelligence personnel to know immediately and pass the news back to East Africa.
And even if he knew it, East Africa would still choose to equip the black army with outdated flintlock guns. Ernst just wanted the East African army to fight more ugly. This must not be done by the regular army. If the acting comes true, then There is no place to cry, so it is better to let the black army complete this task.
Ernst: "Our army has been tempered by countless wars. Although the opponents are not very strong, the courage and quality of the army have been cultivated. It is no problem to deal with some European armies, so we want the army to defend Focusing on fighting against Portugal will probably make the Portuguese feel desperate, which is not what I want to see, so only by using black legions to fight against Portugal can this scene be played out well."
John Sebastian: "If this is true! I feel that the 111th Division alone can penetrate Mozambique. It may be difficult to capture it because there are not enough manpower, but it will be no problem to plow Mozambique several times."
John Sebastian knows the strength of the Mozambican army in the past. To be honest, the combat effectiveness of the Mozambican army may be at the same level as the militias in East Africa. However, there are too many militias in East Africa. Even using the militia to fight the Portuguese is a bit bullying. Portuguese.
Ernst: "So this time, the main force against the Portuguese is not you. Let the second-line troops and the black army be at the forefront. You are only responsible for following behind to stabilize the battle and avoid accidents."
The idea in East Africa is that the black army is at the front, the second-line troops are responsible for supervising the battle, and the elite troops are at the back to prevent overturning. This is a double-layer insurance. Unless the Portuguese can also summon the fireball technique, it is impossible to lose with this configuration in East Africa. .
Ernst: "There will be more black people gathering later. This time we will organize 60,000 black troops first and see how the Portuguese deal with it."
There are 60,000 black troops, but the muskets can only be used by 40,000 people. These are still antiques found after rummaging through boxes in East Africa. The remaining black people can only use cold weapons. It is impossible for East Africa to really give black people any good equipment. Neither does the already outdated Dresser rifle.