CHAPTER 408: CHAPTER 85 PLAYING ROGUE

The only Boer Republic with relatively ample finances is the Orange Free State. Although the bulk of the Kimberley diamond mines was taken by the British, at least a little was left for them.

Griqualand Republic actually has abundant resources, but they have not been explored. Coupled with Griqualand’s harsh climate and sparse population, even if mineral resources were discovered, they would be unable to develop them. Unable to mine, the only industry Griqualand Republic could engage in was pastoralism. As a result, Griqualand Republic’s economic level is destined not to be high, even lagging behind some Arab countries with equally poor natural conditions.

A few days later, under the noses of the British and Griqualand Republic’s upper echelons, Merk incorporated the territory of Griqualand Republic into the Kingdom of East Africa.

This left the administrative staff sent from Cape Town Colony to Griqualand dumbfounded because the East African army acted too swiftly. Only after East Africa blocked the Orange River did the British realize what was happening.

After several reports, Johnson, the highest-ranking official from the British Cape Town Colony in Griqualand, met with Merk.

"Mr. Merk, what your Kingdom of East Africa has done is sheer aggression. Griqualand is already British territory. Does your Kingdom of East Africa intend to challenge the grandeur of the British Empire?" Johnson questioned Merk as soon as they met.

Seeing Johnson’s accusation, Merk actually felt a bit uncertain, not because he feared the British, but because East Africa indeed seemed unjust in this matter.

"Mr. Johnson, please calm down. We did not intend to offend your country. I first apologize for this," Merk replied.

Seeing Merk’s good attitude, Johnson then said, "Hmm, now that sounds reasonable. However, next, immediately withdraw your troops from Griqualand, and I can pretend none of this ever happened."

"Withdraw troops?" Merk chuckled. How could he give up what was already in his mouth? He smiled and said to Johnson, "Mr. Johnson, I’m afraid things won’t go as you wish. Our Kingdom of East Africa cannot possibly withdraw its troops from the Orange River line!"

Upon hearing this, Johnson felt greatly insulted. However, when he thought about the military strength of the Kingdom of East Africa, it calmed him down. There is a fact:

The Cape Town Colony can’t possibly send troops to rescue him. Regardless of the fact that Cape Town doesn’t have many troops to begin with, more importantly, it’s not worth organizing an army to reclaim Griqualand.

But, as an official of the British Empire, standing behind him is the world’s strongest nation of the time, so Johnson believed the Kingdom of East Africa wouldn’t dare to do anything to him.

He questioned Merk rhetorically, "What? Does your Kingdom of East Africa intend to challenge the Empire to see if the Empire’s martial virtue is abundant?"

Merk did not respond directly but said to Johnson, "East Africa is a peace-loving country and certainly has no intention to offend Britain. However, the matter of withdrawing troops is not something a minor lower-level officer like me can decide. It requires the Central Government’s order. I’ll promptly relay the message back home for the Central Government’s decision."

But this isn’t the reason. In fact, Ernst is currently in Pillar, and it would take only a few days to dispatch a messenger to inform the Crown Prince of the news.

However, Merk didn’t want the British to know this point. He needed an excuse for East Africa to stick around, and then East Africa would use administrative means to drive away Griqualand Republic’s merchants and residents, thoroughly turning Griqualand into the territory of the East African Kingdom.

This matter can be easily resolved. First, abolish the slave system, and second, impose heavy taxes on the Griqualand people, forcing them to voluntarily move to the Orange Free State.

This is the "Eagle Boiling" tactic. If the Griqualand people take the unusual route and actively provoke the East African Army, so much the better. It suits Merk’s wishes, allowing him to expel the Griqualand people violently.

Once the Griqualand Republic is completely destroyed, the British accusations against the Kingdom of East Africa won’t exist. You claim East Africa invaded the Griqualand Republic, and I’m here asking, what so-called Griqualand Republic? This land has always been that of us Germans since ancient times.

Merk dared to do so because he had confidence built over years of navigating Africa, giving East Africans a more profound understanding of Africa.

The reality is that other than the Kingdom of East Africa, the sub-Saharan African continent currently has no opponent worthy of East Africa’s full effort.

Of course, the British are not weak. However, Merk does not believe the British would fall out with the Kingdom of East Africa over small Griqualand. Do the British intend to mobilize a large army from other regions to conquer East Africa?

The Kingdom of East Africa is not like Egypt or Absynnia, which appear strong but shatter upon impact. The British truly cannot manage the Kingdom of East Africa, which has already established itself firmly in Africa, on land.

Even if the British blockade East Africa’s coastline and cut off East Africa’s external trade, this strategy no longer works. Previously, Ernst feared this move because the Kingdom of East Africa didn’t have a sufficient population and the colony’s early operation depended on the Heixinggen consortium to sustain it through blood transfusion, requiring imports of food, seeds, livestock, tools, and weapons from Germany and other parts of the world for the early development of the East African colony.

Now, however, the Kingdom of East Africa can achieve independence and self-sufficiency locally in Africa, relying on a population of nearly seven million to realize internal circulation, with a strong agricultural sector and, moreover, a handicraft industry barely self-sufficient. Especially in military industries, there’s basically no generational gap between the East African Army and Europe.

Currently, the mainstream weapons of armies are nothing but two types: firearms and artillery. The Dreyse Rifle and small-caliber cannons equipped by the East African Army aren’t considered inferior, definitely top-notch within Africa. Most importantly, East Africa can now produce these two items independently.

As for large-caliber cannons, East Africa actually isn’t lacking. Although they can’t produce them, East Africa’s stock is substantial enough, ready at any time to redeploy those stationed near the coastline for use, which is not a big deal. The artillery at East African ports employs a saturation defense and counterattack strategy to deal with enemies from the sea. Since the day the Kingdom of East Africa obtained a sea outlet, Ernst has known that the greatest future threat to East Africa comes from the sea. Therefore, the number of coastal cannons is actually excessive. The number of coastal cannons in East Africa even exceeds that of Austria-Hungary itself in the vicinity of the Adriatic Sea’s coastal defense, which allowed Austrian military enterprises to reap substantial profits.

However, this is also a strategy implemented by the Heixinggen consortium in Europe. As one of the world’s top grain merchants, standing firm in Germany and Austria, Heixinggen inevitably has to make some balance and sacrifice. Otherwise, the Junker nobility and Hungarian aristocracy wouldn’t allow the Heixinggen consortium’s food enterprises to exist.

In fact, the Heixinggen consortium’s food enterprises are one of the largest purchasers of agricultural products from Germany and Austria. For instance, in recent years, the wine industry of both countries has been promoted and developed by the Heixinggen consortium, encouraging landowners to plant more cash crops, allowing cheap grain from East Africa to fill the void seamlessly, ultimately benefiting both parties. The only one suffering is Russia, where the market has become overly competitive. Although Russia has tens of millions of grey livestock, they can’t compare to East Africa’s more than twenty million black slaves in terms of cost-effectiveness.

East African homelands and the Heixinggen consortium won’t fall into a standstill due to British sanctions, indicating East Africa doesn’t have vulnerabilities. Alaska, in the icy cold, is a burden, though. The British may not even think of it, as Ernst often forgets that the Heixinggen royal family holds this territory.

All in all, the national power of East Africa gave Merk the confidence to be unreasonable, and no matter if the opponent is the British, it doesn’t matter to East Africa.

Merk’s attitude of being completely unyielding troubled Johnson, but after calming down to think it over carefully, Johnson became even more unsettled.

At this moment, he realized, the Kingdom of East Africa, the Kingdom of East Africa, since it’s the Kingdom of East Africa, how did they come to southern Africa?

Moreover, East Africa deployed such a substantial force just to deal with a small Griqualand Republic. What is the overall strength of the Kingdom of East Africa? The deeper one thinks, the more terrifying it becomes!

Johnson suddenly realized he had uncovered something remarkable. This matter must be reported to Cape Town and even London, but right now, he must first extricate himself from Griqualand.