Chapter 1250 Rumors
Krabi Province.
The agreement between the East African and Siamese governments gave the indigenous people of the Kra Isthmus territory a difficult choice. Whether to stay here or to flee to the north with their families, it was difficult to decide for a while.
The Delakorn family is also troubled by this. The Delakorn family are just tenants in Krabi Province and are responsible for working for local planters all year round to make ends meet.
"Dela Gong, I don't know if the rumors are true. What should we do now? Should we flee to the north?" Del Gong's wife asked.
Krabi is not far from Siam, and it is only a few dozen miles away from Wanlun, which is the core area of the Siam-Tape River Plain that is not accessible in East Africa.
Therefore, in Krabi Province, Phang Nga Province and other areas adjacent to Siam Van Lwin Province, it is not difficult for local people to flee to Siam.
Dragon frowned and said, "Let me think about it again. Moving is very important. We don't have land and we don't have much property. Even if we escape to Wanlun, survival will be a huge problem."
Since Siam is a feudal monarchy, land is naturally concentrated in the hands of the Siamese landlord class. Most ordinary people like the Drakorn family do not have their own land.
Of course, the situation in several prefectures in the southern part of Siam is better. After all, Siam’s conquest and development here was short, so local land annexation is relatively weak. The number of homesteaders is still quite considerable. After all, there is more land that can be reclaimed.
However, as a tropical rainforest area, in the early 20th century, it was not generally difficult to develop it. It required technology, manpower, organizational capabilities, etc., and it also had to overcome the harsh natural environment.
Not to mention Siam, even powerful countries like East Africa are lagging behind in the development of tropical rainforest areas, so most of the population in southern Siam is concentrated in the already developed Tapi River Plain area.
The wife said: "The distance from our place to Wanlun is only thirty-four kilometers, so we might as well escape! After all, this distance is not too far, and our family of six does not have to worry about any dangers on the road, and we I don’t have my own land in the first place. In Krabi, the land is farmed by landlords, so it won’t make any difference if I change my land.”
"The most important thing is that East Africans are quite ferocious. The risk for our family to stay here is too great. Rather than losing our lives, it is better to travel more. As for the issue of livelihood, we will wait until we get to Wanlun."
Now, rumors about East Africa have spread throughout the Kra Isthmus territory. In the descriptions of local people, East Africa is basically a demon that "kills everyone on sight."
Therefore, Delakong's wife did not dare to gamble with the lives of the family. She still wanted the family to run away first.
Dragong said: "I want to run too! It's a pity that you and I have no relatives in Wanlun, otherwise I wouldn't be so hesitant. Moreover, we don't have much experience. The farthest place we have been to is the town, so Even though it’s only a few dozen kilometers away from Wanlun, we really want to settle down. I’m afraid this distance is just the lower limit, and we may have to walk further north.”
The wife said: "Don't worry so much at this time. There are many people in the village who want to go to Wanlun. We can go together with the people in the village who want to leave, so as not to be bullied."
Naturally, the people who have the idea of escaping to Krabi Province cannot be just Drakorn's family. After all, the entire Krabi Province is now panicked, especially when some big families have fled. The only ones who are willing to choose to stay are the real ones. The head is iron.
While the couple was discussing, a voice came from outside the house: "Is Drakon at home?"
Delagon reacted: "It's Pani. He came just in time. I can ask about their family's plans."
Then Drakon walked outside the yard and said to Pani: "Pani, are your family going to Wanlun?"
Pani said with a frown: "I don't know either, so I came here to ask what you think, but someone in the village is already planning to go to Wanlun together in a group. Delakong, what do you think?"
Delagon said: "Of course we want to escape here as soon as possible. After all, if the rumors are true, we will not be able to do well under the rule of the East Africans. We will either be slaughtered or enslaved."
Pani said: "Yes! Outsiders say that East Africans are quite cruel. They have committed massacres in many regions and countries in Southeast Asia. If we stay here, we may be in trouble in the future."
Delakong said: "What did the village chief's family say?"
Pani replied: "The village chief also plans to run away. The other two big households in the village have already moved to Bangkok. The village chief and his family have many families and have many local industries, so they have delayed leaving until now. "
In the village where Drakong is located, the land is basically concentrated in the hands of three families. The village chief's family is the strongest, but it also means that the village chief's family has the most complicated relationships in the local area, so the other two families ran away first.
Delakong said: "Then they don't want their land?"
Pani said: "This is a multiple-choice question. To want land means to risk one's life. Do you know the colonial methods in East Africa? I heard that there are no landlords in East Africa. The land is nationalized, and several East African countries in Southeast Asia The colonies were even more thorough, not even leaving any people behind, and the lands were collectively taken over and managed by the East African government.”
This can be considered a form of "land reform", and the reason why East Africa has not been targeted by other powerful countries is entirely because all the land in East Africa was obtained through colonial means. Since it is a colony, its nature is naturally different.
The behavior of the East African government is completely generosity to others, and the fate of the indigenous people is not taken seriously by Western countries. After all, the colonial lands of Britain and France were obtained in vain.
Of course, in another scenario, assuming that East Africa is a country with a long history, and the East African government forcibly expropriates these lands from its own people, it will be a different situation.
Pani continued: "And how could the three families in the village be so stupid? They are not as poor as us. It is not far from Wanlun. They can monitor the situation in Krabi at any time. If the East Africans are easy to talk to, they will move back at worst. , after all, the land title is in their hands.”
Naturally, the upper-class families in the Kra Isthmus cannot be willingly allowed to be slaughtered. After all, their wealth, power, and status are all local.
But Krabi is a special place. After all, it is located on the border. Therefore, most families in the Krabi area will not imitate the families in other provinces to be so stubborn. Most of them choose to go to Wanlun to wait and see the situation first.
If East Africa is not as rumored, can everyone coexist at all? After all, the British and French colonies did not exterminate them all. Instead, they relied on local families and upper class society to stabilize their rule.
The upper class of the original indigenous people in Krabi and the entire Kra Isthmus territory naturally have this idea. They cannot sacrifice their own interests in vain just because of a treaty between the East African government and Bangkok.
If East Africa does not need to be strong, then everyone will be happy with the result. If East Africa replicates East Kalimantan's policy, then local forces will definitely fight back.
In fact, family forces in many areas in the southern part of the Kra Isthmus territory have begun to purchase and hoard arms in large quantities, especially the indigenous people in the Pattani area, who have long been in conflict with the Siamese government.
So how could such die-hards obediently withdraw from the Kra Isthmus territory just because they were afraid of the threat from East Africa.
In fact, the East Africans have not yet arrived for the window period to take over the Kra Isthmus territory, and some local forces have already colluded together, especially in the south, where Pattani is a typical Arab religious area.
East Africa's attitude towards the locals is obvious. In fact, many of the various rumors and hearsay currently circulating in the Kra Isthmus territory, and the exaggeration of terror in East Africa, are originated from the East African Military Intelligence Agency.
The Military Intelligence Bureau is also an intelligence agency in East Africa, but it mainly serves the military. In controlling the territory of the Kra Isthmus, the military obviously has to play a major role, so the Military Intelligence Bureau will carry out this task, rather than the National Defense Bureau, which has been making waves overseas all year round. Security Bureau.