CHAPTER 414: CHAPTER 91: REJECTED

July 22, 1872.

London.

The British Prime Minister Gladstone has been quite content recently, as various affairs are progressing smoothly. Last year, he presided over the implementation of Britain’s national education reform, establishing government-funded non-religious elementary schools to improve workers’ cultural level in support of industrialists competing in the international market.

The same year saw the implementation of civil service reform to establish a cost-effective government that could improve administrative efficiency while saving expenses, allowing more funds to be used for economic development. This year, the reforms of the British Army were completed, adapting to a short-term service system.

With the international situation improving, the arch-enemy France was dragged under by Prussia, making the British Empire’s current state not just good, but extremely favorable.

At this moment, the secretary entered, disrupting Gladstone’s good spirits: "Prime Minister, this is an urgent letter from the Cape Colony!"

"Cape Colony! What urgent matters could they have?" Gladstone asked, puzzled.

"Well, Prime Minister, you’d better read the contents of the letter before concluding," the secretary replied.

Thus, Gladstone, somewhat skeptical, began to read. He could hardly imagine what urgent matters might confront Cape Colony. Serving as an important part of the British Empire’s colonies, it should be beyond the meddling of any ignorant daredevils. After all, France no longer has the qualifications to compete with Britain for hegemony. Although Germany became the overlord of Europe, its navy ranks among the audibly sorrowful bathtub navies, posing no threat to Britain. Lastly, there’s the Austria-Hungary and Russia, two colossi of clay, hardly worth mentioning.

After eliminating major countries, the only nation daring to challenge the British Empire would be the rebellious America. However, all Brits recognize America’s merely tough talk, only able to shout across the Atlantic at Britain.

"Where is the East African Kingdom?" Gladstone asked after reading the letter, puzzled.

The secretary responded, "Prime Minister, have you forgotten about Prince Constantine of Prussia going to Africa as king back in midyear two years ago? It was quite the joke in newspapers for a while then!"

Gladstone: "Now that you mention it, I do remember. I even jokingly remarked on the Hohenzollern family’s lack of ambition, running off to Africa to play king and overlord."

Although Ernst made headlines, bringing fame to the East African Kingdom, its reputation wasn’t great. Africa, well, you know how it is. Had it not been followed by the eruption of the Prussian Wars, such an event would surely have become a laughingstock for most people for a while.

"Hmm, but now is the East African Kingdom getting so domineering? Being able to bully Cape Colony! Fifty thousand troops, not too bad? Why is Cape Colony so nervous!" Gladstone asked, perplexed.

Gladstone didn’t consider the fifty thousand troops from East Africa as a threat to Cape Colony, due to his inherent assumption that East Africa composed its military using Black people.

This occurrence is too common in colonies. If possible, Britain could easily organize a million-strong army in India using local people. Cape Colony doesn’t have many whites, but there are quite a few Blacks, so they could manage a force of ten to twenty thousand.

This thought made Gladstone angry: "Let Cape Colony handle this themselves; it’s too disgraceful. Scared of a small African nation. If America has that many Blacks, shouldn’t they have revolted ages ago? Are we supposed to ask Prussia, ’Your colony is too formidable, threatening Cape Colony’s security’? If we don’t even trust our ability to defeat the Blacks, does that even make sense?"

Gladstone continued: "Tell Sir Henry Barkley not to send such matters to London in the future, unless the Germans personally come and invade Cape Colony. I don’t believe they’ve degraded to being bullied by natives. Just because of this matter, asking me to seek Bismarck’s help, that’s not even worth considering."

Gladstone’s reasoning was sound. Given the level of the German navy, it could hardly be compared to the Royal Navy stationed at Cape Colony. Moreover, Germans wouldn’t cross the Atlantic to Africa to commit suicide.

Gladstone was chiefly angered by the loss of British Empire’s prestige, as well as his own as Prime Minister. To think that Cape Colony would consider asking him to seek Bismarck’s aid for their benefit, how absurd. The world overlord asking a former small subordinate?

"Yes, Prime Minister!"

The secretary concurred, believing the East African Kingdom was merely a native state that went public last year, whereas Britain’s Cape Colony had undergone hundreds of years of development (including the Dutch). With the largest population of whites in Africa (Europe), if a century-old colony were to prove inferior in strength to a newly born native nation, that would be truly disgraceful.

Gladstone rejected Cape Colony’s plea for help not because he deemed it unimportant, but because he didn’t believe it to be in danger. Any significant power daring to swallow Cape Colony under the British watch would likely be a major nation; however, the current dominance of the Royal Navy means no one dares trouble the British overseas.

...

South Africa.

Ernst: "Now that we’ve become neighbors with the Portuguese in the south, not visiting would be unreasonable. If we frighten the Mozambique colony, that would be unfortunate."

Settling the various forces in South Africa, especially the Orange Free State, made the southern defenses of the East African Kingdom as solid as a rock. The Orange Free State may not be large, but it now holds nearly half of South Africa’s white population (excluding East African Army). This enhanced version is capable of saying no to both East Africa and Cape Colony, Ernst believed.

Currently, Cape Colony seems oblivious, displaying no reaction whatsoever, leading Ernst to plan on letting Felix, who subdued the Zulu Kingdom, lead a delegation to Portugal for exchange (demonstration).

This was a necessary measure. Although the Mozambique colony’s northern region borders East Africa more extensively, Mozambique’s focus lies on Maputo Bay. Action and reaction are mutual; while Mozambique fears East African Kingdom threatening its capital, East African Kingdom equally worries about Portuguese attack in South Africa!

Ernst: "No need to bring too many people, a dozen will suffice. The Portuguese are now jumpy, exerting a bit of pressure might just make them explode."

Ernst spoke truthfully. Due to East African Kingdom’s arrival in this South African territory, the locals were thrown into turmoil, especially with large-scale military maneuvers and dazzling series of wars from East African Kingdom, leaving local forces trembling, fearing East African Kingdom might strike any day.

Moreover, while East African Kingdom’s military might was formidable, their lack of adherence to traditional martial virtues was maddening. Reviewing several nations annihilated by East Africa, attack without declaration was commonplace, making them worrisome as neighbors everywhere.

Russia represents such behavior, though when Russia combats Europe, it adheres to European rules. East African Kingdom, on the other hand, continues its rogue-like demeanor, a reflection of colonial ecological norms where, especially in Africa, rule-breaking dominates, deceit and violence abound with each colonial group fighting fiercely, using devious tricks. Among them, a country relying solely on brute force like East African Kingdom is considered pure within African standards.